How can I print copies in black and white from my MFC-420CN using only black ink cartridge. When the other cartridges are empty ?? Solve This

Yes, you can! You just need to paint your empty cartridge with a black sharpie, one of the side of the cartridge that points out of the printer where you can see ink level.

Or, get a black tape and stick a piece inside of the empty space in the cartridge slot without the cartridge. Again it's a narrow vertical side closest to the edge.

It will be seen by the sensor as the cartridge is not empty.

The print head is clogged.Try powerful cleaning:
Press menu, then start black copy, then four times arrow-up quickly after another.Machine will be in maintenance mode
(all lights will flash).
Press 7-6-4 and OK (or start-black-copy).
When finished press 7-6-3 then start black copy,
printer will do a power purge.
Leave maintenance mode by pressing 9-9.
If this not help better think about new printer, because cost of repairing this one is profitable.

actually, its not. the reason is, there is a small resovoire (sp?) in the ink cartridges. if you continue to print, the nozzles will clog up, and can cause all the nozzles not to work. even when you do just black, the printer has to clean at times all the nozzles and if your nozzles are empty, air will go into the deep and dry up the excess ink.

if you are going to do primarily black prints, you should get a black and white laser for those uses only.

sorry you cant print if one of the cartridge is empty

you need to do a hard reset on the printer as well it might clear up the problem and recognize the ink at its proper levels.

refer to your user manual or let us know and we will find the procedure to do so.

i have a similar model and know how picky they can be.

My yellow cartridge was doing the same thing as your black. So I took the cartridge out, and took a flashlight to see how it works. There is like a little straw on the right hand side which goes up into the printer cartridge, this I assume is to measure the ink. I took a needle and cleaned that 'straw' thoroughly. Reseated the ink, ran cleaning and test print, and then the printer found the yellow ink! You could give that a try. It might work for you too. (I have never used any ink but Brother ink in the printer, btw.)

brother won't print od do anything is one of the 4 inks are empty so first of all you have to replace whatever is empty, when you remove it it will ask you if you changed it and if it is a new one you will press 1 twice per cartridge, if you put compatible ink in you will clog the ink head up and then be stuffed

unplug maqchine from power. take all carts out. wait 5 minutes. connect machine to power. insert carts as demanded. give the right answer if machine asks if the carts are changed. machine will do some cleaning.

do you use generic ink? in that case you might have clogged the printhead with wrong ink. The ph cant be cleaned anymore.

nevertheless try this (carts should be nearly full!):
press menue then start mono (blue copy) then fourtimes arrow up. machine will be in maintenance mode. press 7 then 6 then 4. Machine will display init_all. press start mono. machine will refill tubes and
ph with fresh ink and do some cleaning. after that press 7 then 6 then 3 and start mono. machine will do a powerpurge.
press zero then 9 to do a quality test print. If it cant do the job leave maintenance by pressing 9 then 9. do the test print manually by pressing ink etc.

If you still do not see any colors the ph is clogged and cant be fixed anymore. It has to be replaced.

It seems that another cart is empty. Check all cartridges when printer is off. And yes, you do need the color ones to print in bk.

the brother printer is not a good brand i also have a brother mfc 3220cn and it gives the same problem, what you have to is unplug the machine and let it stand for about 2 days take out the cartridges and clean the printing with air replace back them and plug in.that should remedy your problem.i urge on you never to buy brother printers.if you buy them get a bottle of phensic along with it.good luck my brother.