HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Printers - Replacing the Printhead

This document is for the following printers.

A printhead assembly is formed by cartridges fitted into printheads. A new printhead assembly might need to be installed when the existing printhead assembly is damaged or is incompatible with the printer. Replacement printhead assemblies are only available from HP Support or authorized service providers.

If HP replaces your printhead assembly under warranty, you will receive a kit with a new printhead assembly, instructions, and a full set of SETUP ink cartridges. If you are an HP Instant Ink subscriber, you might also receive a new set of Instant Ink cartridges. You must install the SETUP ink cartridges first, or an ink cartridge error occurs.

1. Go to HP Parts Store.
   If you are in Asia Pacific, the site directs you to a service center in your area.
2. Search for your printhead number.
   • In Canada, Latin America, and United States, search for CR322A.
   • In Europe, Middle East, and Africa, search for CR324A.
3. Follow the instructions to order the printhead assembly.

1. Load unused, plain white paper in the input tray.
2. Press the Power button to turn on the printer, if it is not already on.
3. Insert your fingers into the slot on the left side of the printer, and then pull forward to open the cartridge access door. The carriage moves to the left side of the printer. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you proceed.
   Figure : Open the cartridge access door
   
   1. Location of the cartridge access door slot
4. Lift the latch handle on the carriage.
   Figure : Lift the latch handle on the carriage

   
5. Grasp the sides of the printhead, and then lift the printhead and pull it toward you to remove it.

   note:

   Do not remove the cartridges from the printhead. You can safely remove the printhead with all of the cartridges inserted.

   Figure : Remove the printhead

   

     caution:

   Handle the printhead carefully to avoid ink stains. Avoid touching the underside of the printhead.

6. Dispose of the printhead:

   • If a postage-paid mailing label and a return envelope were included with the new printhead, HP would like to have the old part back for analysis. Skip to the step to return the failed parts to HP, and then follow the instructions to return the printhead.
   • If no post-paid mailing label came with the new printhead, you can recycle the old part. Put the printhead (with the cartridges still inserted) into a plastic bag, and then go to hp.com/recycle for information on recycling the old printhead and cartridges.

Follow these steps to insert the new printhead into the printer.

1. Remove the new printhead and cartridges from the plastic package, and then set the cartridges aside.

   note:

   If the replacement printhead assembly came with a post-paid return mailing label, set the package aside to use to place the old printhead into when returning the failed parts to HP.

   Figure : Remove the new printhead and cartridges from the package

   

     caution:

   Do not touch the electrical contacts or the nozzles. Touching these areas can cause electrical failures or print quality problems.

   Figure : Do not touch the electrical contacts or nozzles on the printhead

   
2. Grasp the printhead on both sides with the electrical contacts facing the rear of the printer, and then insert the printhead into the carriage.
   Figure : Insert the new printhead

   
3. Carefully lower the latch handle on the carriage.
   Figure : Lower the latch handle on the carriage

   

1. Grasp the underside of Tray 1, and then pull out the tray.
   Figure : Pull out the paper tray

   
2. Pinch the paper width guide tabs, and then slide the paper width guides to their outermost positions.
   Figure : Slide out the paper width guides

   
3. Insert plain white paper in the tray. Make sure that the print side is face-down and the short edge is forward.

     caution:

   Do not fill the paper above the yellow, dotted lines on the sides of the paper tray.

   Figure : Load paper into the paper tray

   
4. If necessary, slide the paper width guides inward so that they rest on the edges of the paper.
5. Push the tray toward the printer until it locks into place.
   Figure : Push in the paper tray

   
6. Pull out the output tray extender, and then raise the paper catch.
   Figure : Pull out the tray extender

   

Important: To avoid startup failures, HP recommends that you use the new cartridges that came with the new printhead.

1. Remove the new cartridges from the package.
2. Slide the new cartridge into its slot, and then gently push it forward until it clicks into place.

   note:

   Make sure that the colored dot on the cartridge label matches the colored dot on the slot.

   Figure : Insert the cartridge into its color-coded slot

   

     caution:

   Do not lift the latch handle on the carriage to insert cartridges. Doing so could cause the printhead or cartridges to be incorrectly seated, which could damage the print mechanism and cause printing problems.

3. Repeat these steps to insert the other cartridges.
4. Close the cartridge access door.
   The printer starts an initialization process, which takes about six minutes. It is normal for the printer to make noises during this process. After the process completes, the printer prints an alignment page.
   Figure : Close the cartridge access door

   

Return the failed parts if the new printhead assembly came with a post-paid mailing label and instructions to return the failed parts to HP. HP would like to analyze the parts in order to improve its printers in the future.

note:

Not all customers are requested to return the old parts. If the replacement printhead assembly came without a post-paid return mailing label, ignore the rest of this section.

1. Place the ink absorbing pad into the plastic package that the new printhead came in.
   Figure : Place the ink absorbing pad into the plastic package

   
2. Place the old printhead with the cartridges still installed in the plastic package, and then close the package.
   Figure : Place the old printhead and cartridges in the package

   
3. Put the plastic package that contains the old parts and the form that came with the new parts into the box the new parts came in. If possible, also include a print sample showing the issue with the old printhead.
   Figure : Put the old parts, form, and print sample into the box

   
4. Close the box and seal the box, apply the post-paid mailing label, and then mail the box.
   Figure : Mail the box back to HP