This is what I did for mine. Mine has a print head that is NOT REMOVABLE. There is a different solution if your print head is removable.
PLEASE NOTE: I FIXED IT MYSELF: NO HELP FROM HP.
I WILL BE PURCHASING A BROTHER AS A REPLACEMENT as I am sure the ink is going to continue to be a problem with this HP. (Mine is an HP Photosmart 5514)
I researched this on line and there are literally thousands of posts about the black ink not working on the HP printers. I will say I finally got it working after 2 full days, but can guarantee I will be purchasing a new printer SOON. See, what is actually happening is that the ink is leaking out of the cartridges and into the ink parking station. Ever notice how your expensive ink cartridges that are supposed to last twice as long as the old ones are getting empty so fast?! Yeah. That's it- you guessed it. Ever notice how the printer cycles a lot? Well that little ink parking station is sucking your cartridges dry. But, there is no where for the ink to go. So instead of keeping your cartridge in working order, it is being drained and getting clogged up from all the ink on the parking station. Don't believe me? Well, open the hatch like you are going to replace your ink and stick your hand in on the right hand side where the inks usually sit. Yep. Lots and lots of gooey sticky ink!!!
Okay, so this is what I did since the print head cannot be removed to soak it. Open the hatch like you are changing ink. Now UNPLUG the printer and USB (you don't want to get fried). Remove the ink cartridges. Get a piece of plastic tubing and a 3cc syringe. The tubing I used was 1/2" OD & 3/8" OD. I cut a length about 4" long. you have to make sure the cut is smooth or it won't seal around the nozzle. Now you have to slide the ink carriage to the left. Fold up a paper towel so it will fit UNDER the ink carriage and stuff it in the groove by the rollers. Now slide the ink carriage back to the right so it is on top of the paper towel. Fill the syringe with windex or diluted ammonia (I used diluted ammonia). Fit the syringe into the end of the tube. Place the tube over the black ink nozzle on the print head and make sure it is sealed. You will have to hold it in place. SLOWLY squeeze the ammonia solution into the tube from the syringe. This should dislodge and dissolve any clogs in the nozzle. Wait a couple minutes and slide the print head back to the left. You may repeat the process (hey, while you are in there, you might as well, right?).
Now you will need about a dozen paper towels and some windex or ammonia to clean up all the gooey ink in the parking station. You won't be able to get it all, but try to get the majority. There are some little rubber blades that wipe the ink nozzles... they are kind of stuffed back in on the right hand side... wipe what you can but be gentle.
Now that your hands are black and fingernails are disgusting, it is time to see if your effort paid off. Make sure you have all the moisture wiped up and all the paper towels out of the printer. Snap the ink back in to the correct spots. Plug USB & power back in. When it quits cycling (wasting more of your ink) run your test page or print quality report. It should be working now! It will at least work long enough to use up that $50 worth of ink you bought when you were trouble shooting. Next time you are feeling rich you can buy a Brother.
PLEASE NOTE: I FIXED IT MYSELF: NO HELP FROM HP.
I WILL BE PURCHASING A BROTHER AS A REPLACEMENT as I am sure the ink is going to continue to be a problem with this HP. (Mine is an HP Photosmart 5514)
I researched this on line and there are literally thousands of posts about the black ink not working on the HP printers. I will say I finally got it working after 2 full days, but can guarantee I will be purchasing a new printer SOON. See, what is actually happening is that the ink is leaking out of the cartridges and into the ink parking station. Ever notice how your expensive ink cartridges that are supposed to last twice as long as the old ones are getting empty so fast?! Yeah. That's it- you guessed it. Ever notice how the printer cycles a lot? Well that little ink parking station is sucking your cartridges dry. But, there is no where for the ink to go. So instead of keeping your cartridge in working order, it is being drained and getting clogged up from all the ink on the parking station. Don't believe me? Well, open the hatch like you are going to replace your ink and stick your hand in on the right hand side where the inks usually sit. Yep. Lots and lots of gooey sticky ink!!!
Okay, so this is what I did since the print head cannot be removed to soak it. Open the hatch like you are changing ink. Now UNPLUG the printer and USB (you don't want to get fried). Remove the ink cartridges. Get a piece of plastic tubing and a 3cc syringe. The tubing I used was 1/2" OD & 3/8" OD. I cut a length about 4" long. you have to make sure the cut is smooth or it won't seal around the nozzle. Now you have to slide the ink carriage to the left. Fold up a paper towel so it will fit UNDER the ink carriage and stuff it in the groove by the rollers. Now slide the ink carriage back to the right so it is on top of the paper towel. Fill the syringe with windex or diluted ammonia (I used diluted ammonia). Fit the syringe into the end of the tube. Place the tube over the black ink nozzle on the print head and make sure it is sealed. You will have to hold it in place. SLOWLY squeeze the ammonia solution into the tube from the syringe. This should dislodge and dissolve any clogs in the nozzle. Wait a couple minutes and slide the print head back to the left. You may repeat the process (hey, while you are in there, you might as well, right?).
Now you will need about a dozen paper towels and some windex or ammonia to clean up all the gooey ink in the parking station. You won't be able to get it all, but try to get the majority. There are some little rubber blades that wipe the ink nozzles... they are kind of stuffed back in on the right hand side... wipe what you can but be gentle.
Now that your hands are black and fingernails are disgusting, it is time to see if your effort paid off. Make sure you have all the moisture wiped up and all the paper towels out of the printer. Snap the ink back in to the correct spots. Plug USB & power back in. When it quits cycling (wasting more of your ink) run your test page or print quality report. It should be working now! It will at least work long enough to use up that $50 worth of ink you bought when you were trouble shooting. Next time you are feeling rich you can buy a Brother.