Reset ink level for HP C6656A (HP56) or C6658A (HP58)

When you have refilled your cartridge, your job have not fully completed yet. Some printers fail to work and claim that your cartridge is still empty, even though it’s full after you refill the cartridge.

The printer has its memory and remember the last cartridge you use. There are two ways to overcome this problem. First is to reset the ink level of the cartridge as shown below, second is to use 2 spare cartridges. Note: These procedure may not work for some printers. The printer simply refuse to print alignment page when you cover the contact with tape.

Reset Ink Level for HP56 or HP58Â Reset Ink Level for HP56 or HP58

  1. Put tape over Contact #1 as shown in the first picture above.
    Put the cartridge back into the printer with the tape fixed on the cartridge.
  2. The printer will print an alignment page. Once this has completed, continue with Step 3. If the printer does not print the alignment page then this procedure will not work for your printer.
  3. After the printer has completed printing of the alignment page, open the cover, remove the cartridge and place a piece of tape over Contact #2 as shown in the second picture on the left.
  4. Put the cartridge back into the printer. The printer will print another alignment page.
    After this page has been printed, remove the cartridge from the printer, remove all tape from both Contact #1 and #2.
    Reinsert the cartridge back into the printer. Ink levels should read full now.
  5. If the process does not work for you, make sure that no adhesive left stuck on the contacts of the cartridge. Any residue may cause the cartridge not to be recognized by the printer at all.
    If you have cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol, go through steps 1-4 again, make sure each step is followed exactly.

Please help us to give your comments if these procedure work for your printer

Refilling cartridge HP C6656A (HP 56)

Frankly speaking, this is the easiest cartridge to refill compare to the old generation of HP cartridges such as HP 51626A (HP 26) or HP 51645A (HP 45). The cartridge use sponge to hold the ink and then covered by HP OEM (original) sticker to cover the refill hole.

The refilling process is straight forward, it will take not more than 20 minutes if you refill for the first time and less than 10 minutes if you have more experience. Feel free to learn refilling the cartridge in this guide and get more information about troubleshooting when the problems arise.

Printers that use this cartridge

Deskjet Series: Deskjet 450, 3325, 3420, 3535, 3550, 3650, 5160, 5550, 5652
PhotoSmart Series: PhotoSmart 130, 7150, 7260, 7550, 7660, 7960
PSC Series: PSC 1110, 1210, 1350, 2110, 2210, 2310, 2410
OfficeJet: OfficeJet 4110, 5510, 6110Â

Refill Instruction for HP C6656A (HP 56), Black Ink Cartridge

Step 1 - Putting cartridge into refill clip

Insert the printhead part (nozzle) of the cartridge into the refill clip, and push the top of the cartridge all the way in until you hear it clicking into place.

Step 2 - Putting sticker on top of the original sticker

Attach the supplied sticker on the label of the original cartridge as shown in the figure.Warning: Be careful to attach the sticker in the right shape and direction.

Step 3 - Putting needle into the syringe

Open the cap of the ink container and connect the needle.

Step 4 - Insert the needle

Insert the needle deep into the ink injection inlet marked on the sticker.

Note: Make sure the refill hole is bigger than refill hole to allow air inside the cartridge to escape.
You can turn arround the needle to enlarge the refill hole.

Step 5 - Inject the ink

Pull up the injection needle about 5mm backward, and then inject SLOWLY (max 10ml) of ink by pressing the piston of the syringe for about 15 seconds, and then pull out the ink container.

Warning: If you inject ink too much or too quickly, it may flow over or leak out.

Step 6 - Suck the ink about 1 ml

Put a suction syringe (WITHOUT needle) to the rubber hole at the bottom of refill clip, then suck SLOWLY about 1 ml of ink.

Warning: For this step, remember to use the suction syringe without the needle and take special care that widthdrawn ink does not flow back into the cartridge.

Note: The objective of this procedure is to clean the cartridge nozzle to improve printing quality.

Step 7 - Cartridge is ready for use

Remove the cartridge from the refill clip and clean the excessive ink around the nozzle by touching down to the soft tissue.

Install the cartridge into printer and run the “cartridge cleaning” process before use.

Note: Don’t cover the refill hole, leave it open. Â

That’s all, hope this instruction help you to save your printing cost.