Zebra Gk420D Printhead Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

7

Time Required

                          20 - 40 minutes            

Sections

1

• Printhead
• 7 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Open The Lid               

• Release Side Tabs.
• Remove any media
• Note: You can turn the light blue gear to force the spindle arms to remain apart, that way you don’t have to hold them.

Release Side Tabs.

Remove any media

Note: You can turn the light blue gear to force the spindle arms to remain apart, that way you don’t have to hold them.

1024

Step 2

              Remove the plastic guard.               

• Loosen the captured phillips screw to release the guard.
• Close the lid and slide the guard toward the back of the printer to free it.

Loosen the captured phillips screw to release the guard.

Close the lid and slide the guard toward the back of the printer to free it.

Step 3

              Remove the top cover of the lid.               

• Remove the 5 Phillips Screws.
• Remove the recessed Phillips Screw. It may not be possible to use a driver to remove this screw.
• Gently unplug the two ribbon cables attached to the underside of the lid cover.
• Note which direction the contacts on the ribbon cables are facing for reassembly.
• If there is enough slack on the ribbon cable traveling down the side of the printer, it is not necessary to unplug it. The lid may rest next to the printer.

Remove the 5 Phillips Screws.

Remove the recessed Phillips Screw. It may not be possible to use a driver to remove this screw.

Gently unplug the two ribbon cables attached to the underside of the lid cover.

Note which direction the contacts on the ribbon cables are facing for reassembly.

If there is enough slack on the ribbon cable traveling down the side of the printer, it is not necessary to unplug it. The lid may rest next to the printer.

Step 4

              Remove the grounding cable               

• Slide the grounding cable hook toward the front of the printer to release it from the retaining spring.
• Thread the grounding cable away from the printhead and the lid latches.

Slide the grounding cable hook toward the front of the printer to release it from the retaining spring.

Thread the grounding cable away from the printhead and the lid latches.

Step 5

              Release the retaining spring.               

• Apply downward pressure on the retaining spring.
• Use a spudger to release the plastic tab holding in the retaining spring.
• Once the edge of the retaining spring has cleared the plastic tab, you can slide the retaining spring out of the printer.
• The retaining spring can only be removed out of one side of the printer.
• Clearing the plastic tab holding the retaining spring in place requires a fair bit of force and coordination. It is possible to damage the plastic tab.

Apply downward pressure on the retaining spring.

Use a spudger to release the plastic tab holding in the retaining spring.

Once the edge of the retaining spring has cleared the plastic tab, you can slide the retaining spring out of the printer.

The retaining spring can only be removed out of one side of the printer.

Clearing the plastic tab holding the retaining spring in place requires a fair bit of force and coordination. It is possible to damage the plastic tab.

Step 6

              Loosen the printhead               

• Press the plastic tab holding the printhead in place.
• Once the edge of the printhead is clear of the plastic tab, you can pull it away from the lid to give yourself more room.

Press the plastic tab holding the printhead in place.

Once the edge of the printhead is clear of the plastic tab, you can pull it away from the lid to give yourself more room.

Step 7

              Unplug the printhead.               

• Gently remove the two cables on each end of the printhead.
• It may be helpful to have the lid closed and latched during this step.

Gently remove the two cables on each end of the printhead.

It may be helpful to have the lid closed and latched during this step.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      4 other people completed this guide.                                             

Author

                    Miles Carmany                     

Member since: 01/11/2012

149 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



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dangallagher23 - Dec 29, 2018

Reply

Why would you take the unit apart to replace the printhead? I do not understand. All you need to do is press the plastic tab, slide the printhead off, disconnect the two harnesses, then connect the harness to the new printhead, then slide the printhead in. You do not need to take the unit apart and/or unscrew anything. I can change a printhead on this unit in less then 60 seconds.

Miles Carmany - Jan 23, 2019

This is awesome! Thanks for the tip. I will post this easier alternative as soon as I can take decent pictures.

Joe Phillips - Feb 10, 2022

Reply

Agree, there is no need to remove the top cover. Too many chances to screw up other things.