Trying to print in black with no yellow ink

The black tape has to be places around the "nose" of the cart. If you look at the small front side of the cart, you can see a black platic flag. This flag signals the inklevel to the printer. Stick the tape around the flag so that it is covered in total. B/W only printing: If you only want to print/copy/fax in b/w choose the solution above and drill a simple small 1-2mm hole into the C/Y/M carts (e.g. into the brandname "brother" on top or the handle). The color ones will run dry, but the tape signals "full". After the color ones are down, air will be in the capillarysystem and part of the printhead, but black will work without probs (This will be the only cart to change when its empty!) :-) You can use the START MONO function for copy. You have to change the printerdriver settings to plain paper (for all type of paper!) and greyscale to print without any probs! Enjoy!

OMG! I am going through the same problem. I don't get it, my Cyan is out and my Yellow and Magenta are low and it won't allow me to print when my BLACK IS COMPLETELY FULL! WHy is this happening? I tried unplugging and reinstalling the ink packs but nothing works. Any ideas?

Thank you all. Black tape???????? Who would have thought it would be so simple. fixya.com is the best answer to all my troubles with computers.

Worked great!!! thanks for sharing the info!!!!

It realy worked thank u all

The black tape has to go on the end with the grooves. I've found it worked best to have a short piece of electrical tape and stick it to the middle, then use a small device to push the tape into the grooves on both sides of the middle. Once it's stuck in there good, just put it back in the printer.

On the blank tape solution for 420cn can some please very precisely explain where tape goes as I'm having no luck. many thanks!!

Thanks so much! And to all the pole smokers at Brother big F.U.!

I was having this problem as well. I could scan or do anything. I tried the black tape trick. I went too far and covered the whole area in black tape as I didn't know exactly where the sensor is pointed. I'm considering a permanent marker when I get the chance. This solution might delay the frequent replacement. You will just have to watch the print quality more often.

I have an HP all in one with multiple ink cartridges. I have all printing options set to 'black cartridge only' and 'print in greyscale'. When I want to print in color I change the color settings. Having said that I found out like ya'll did that for some strange reason printing in b/w requires some yellow ink. I ran out of yellow and got error message but thanfully the HP prompts me to 'use black ink only' when it runs out of yellow so I can still print in b/w AND it looks just fine w/o the yellow. I still have no clue why printers 'demand' yellow ink to print in b/w.

Terri

I used white-out on the little ink window (in the middle of the back part). Worked great

Slick trick with the tape. I used white vinyl tape myself (since it was here on my desk) and worked fine.

Thanks a lot the black tape worked just fine !

The solution for the brother model MFC420CN. the color cart, its a very simple fix. This is what you must do. It's assume you are familiar with changing the cart already. Now, when you remove or replace color cartridges, follow this. On the top of the cart stamped with the 'brother', this is the side you must place the black tape.  First remove it, using this orientation, you will notice a narrow notch down this side, grab some black tape, and tape this side piece. make sure it's secure and snub to confirm with the cart original shape. place in printer. repeat for all remaining cart same process.

lastly, just unplug, and plug again, it will initialize and recognize ok.
I've tried this tonight after some careful inspection of this particular printer, it works!

Good luck! :)

I have always used 'multi cartridge' printers and in each case they have had to have a full set of cartridges in place to enable them to print, in whatever colour I require it to print. Personally I have no problem with this method as I always have at least one complete spare set in stock and replace each cartridge as it becomes empty. Perhaps, if you only wish to print in black it would be preferable to by a monchrome printer. However, if the black tape methods works then it is a solution.

Thank you for the black tape solution because that saved me money. I really thought my printer was te bomb, until now. I know now how to save extra money. Do you now the trick for if black ink runs out?

I had this same problem and I have a solution! very simple...take black electric tape, take a 1 inch strip and cover the bottom part of the ink cartridge (where it slides into the printer). The sensor reads the ink level and the electric tape bounces it back as full! problem solved. :)

I heard this is a deliberate ploy by brother to make you use up lots of ink. Allegedly they keep the cost of the printers down by making a fortine on the ink. The printer automatically cleans your cartridges without you asking and sucks out a bit of ink each time. Therefore, even if you are only printing black & white, it will quickly use up the colour ink. All four cartriges must be full and loaded in order to print B&W or colour. Brother will tell you it won't print without all four cartridges full. BUT there is a workaround for some models:- Take the cartridges out and cover them with thick black tape. This fools the sensors into thinking there is still ink in there and it will print B&W. Hope that helps. I will NEVER, EVER, EVER buy another Brother machine. I have a seething hatred for my Brother MFC. There are all sorts of faults, the manual is full of errors, it steals ink, the scanner won't work, the answer-machine is a joke and it interferes with incoming calls. My advice is - don't give them any more money. ! Good luck ! Wendy