With many recent Lexmark (and Dell) cartridges - The manufacturer began by
adding into the cartridge circuitry what we believe is a sort of fuse - when the cartridge reaches the "low" indication - it blows this "fuse" after the cartridge says it is empty. So when you refill the empty or if you purchase a recycled cartridge - The ink indication does not work again with that cartridge, However,
in many of these types of cases it does not prevent people refilling and continuing printing.
We sell lots of these kits for the HP Models so many people are content to make the savings albeit the ink indicator does not work.
Really - with these we are back to the way it was before they tried to give the impression that the ink levels actually showed what was inside a cartridge, I mean we have not always had any indicators.
Much more sinister nowadays are 'Return Program' Cartridges -
Lexmark has taken things that one step further by making the cartridge fail
permanently. If you have a Return Program Cartridge after a single use it cannot
be recycled / refilled. Lexmark offer 'A' versions which can be refilled - but
because they are more expensive few dealers stock them. This plays into
Lexmark's hands as they do not want people buying these and getting a second use
of a cartridge by refilling it. I have even heard of a customer who said she
went to purchase a refillable version of her cartridge on Lexmark's own website.
She said that when she placed this Order - she could not believe it when she
received a phone call from someone re her Order who said "why are you buying the
'A' version of this cartridge as you can buy the Return Program one cheaper!
The refillable A versions costs a few pounds more than the non-refillable and as a result is very difficult to buy from normal retail outlets
Here is a statement from a Lexmark shop site:-
"Use Lexmark Genuine ink and paper for best results! A variable amount of ink remains when this cartridge must be replaced.
This is a non-refillable cartridge licensed for single use only. Return empty cartridge only to Lexmark for remanufacturing, refilling or recycling. Replacement cartridges (36XLA) sold without those terms are available.
2x more pages!***
The #36XL black cartridge reflects a discount** compared to alternative cartridges in exchange for agreeing to return the used cartridges only to Lexmark for remanufacturing or recycling."
Ever seen a recycled cartridge being sold by Lexmark?
So in a nutshell you can refill the 'A' versions of the
cartridges only
Before these changes to their cartridges which make refilling more expensive -
Lexmark cartridges followed the same basic designs as HP. You can see a remarkable resemblance in the Lexmark
No 82 / 83 / 16 / 17 / 26 / 27 / 32 / 33 / 34 cartridges to HP's
cartridges. All of these cartridges are straight forward to refill but can be done with great success if you
use the matching InkTec refill kit which comes with a Priming Tool. This tool
removes any air bubbles which may be lingering down at the Printhead.
Once you know this secret, then refilling is more streamlined.
