The Canon BH-40 Print Head is a black replacement printhead for Canon ink tank machines, sold as Canon part number 3421C001, and it is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 5,150. Every unit arrives brand new and sealed in original Canon packaging, not opened, not tested, not repackaged. The Canon BH-40 Print Head covers the black channel on the PIXMA G1420, G2420, G2460, G3420, G3430, G3460, G3470, G5040, G6040, G7040, GM2040 and GM4040. Collect yours over the counter at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Cyber cafe operators along Tom Mboya Street, school bursars printing exam sets, accounting practices filing KRA returns, and small law firms in Upper Hill chambers all hit the same wall eventually: colour still prints, black does not. Two deep cleaning cycles change nothing, and the machine that ran fine last quarter now pushes out grey, striped text that clients refuse to accept. That is a worn black head, not a dead printer. The Canon BH-40 Print Head replaces the failed module directly, which is exactly why Canon made it user-serviceable. You keep the printer, the ink tanks, and the paper trays you already paid for.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya, Mascom International lists the exact Canon part number on every printer spare we sell, so you can match it against the unit sitting inside your machine before you pay a shilling. Customers across Nairobi report that a Canon BH-40 Print Head swap brings a stalled printer back the same afternoon, with no workshop booking and no waiting list. Walk into our Kimathi Street shop and our counter team fits the Canon BH-40 Print Head for you at no extra charge, or order it for pay-on-arrival delivery to any of Kenya's 47 counties.
Common Questions About the Canon BH-40 Print Head
What is the Canon BH-40 Print Head and when do I need one?
The Canon BH-40 Print Head is the black printhead module inside Canon's refillable ink tank printers, sold separately as Canon part 3421C001. You need one when black printing fails while colour still works: pale text, horizontal white lines, or completely blank black output that survives three cleaning cycles. Canon builds these printers with two user-replaceable heads exactly so a worn black unit does not retire the whole machine. At KSh 5,150, the swap costs a small fraction of a new printer.
Which Canon printers does the Canon BH-40 Print Head fit?
It fits the PIXMA G1420, G2420, G2460, G3420, G3430, G3460 and G3470, plus the PIXMA G5040, G6040, G7040, GM2040 and GM4040. Between them, those cover most Canon ink tank printers sold through Kenyan dealers since 2020. It does not fit the older G1010, G2010 or G3010 range, and it does not fit machines that take BH-20 or BH-30 heads. Check the model badge on your printer, or send a photo to Mascom International on WhatsApp and we will confirm the match.
Can I fit the Canon BH-40 Print Head myself?
Yes. Canon designed this head for user replacement, and most people finish in under ten minutes with no tools at all. Power the printer down at the wall, open the cover, lift the locking lever, pull the old black head out, then peel the tape and dust cap off the new one and seat it. Close the lever, power up, and run head alignment from the control panel. Mascom International also fits it free at our Kimathi Street counter.
Will a new head fix faded or streaky black text?
In most cases yes, provided the black tank still holds ink and you have already run a deep cleaning cycle twice. Faded text, banding and missing lines usually mean dried ink has permanently blocked nozzles, which no cleaning routine can clear. If colour prints cleanly and black does not, the black head is almost certainly the fault. If black and colour fail together, the problem sits elsewhere, and our technicians diagnose it before you spend money.
Is the BH-40 the same as the CH-40 colour head?
No. Canon splits these printers into two separate modules. BH-40 handles pigment black only, while CH-40 handles cyan, magenta and yellow. They are not interchangeable and they carry different Canon part numbers. Most faults hit one module and leave the other working, so buying both is usually wasted money. Print a nozzle check page first, since it shows exactly which channels are failing. Mascom International stocks both heads, so you can collect the correct one afterwards.
What print quality should I expect after fitting it?
Output returns to the printer's rated ceiling of 4800 x 1200 dpi, with solid black text and clean letter edges on ordinary copier paper. On a PIXMA G3420, mono printing runs at roughly 9.1 images per minute once the head has primed. The pigment black ink resists water and smudging, which matters for tender documents, delivery notes and school exam papers. Run one alignment page after fitting, because skipping it leaves text slightly soft even on a healthy head.
Do I need new ink bottles when I replace the head?
Not necessarily, but check the tank level first. A new head primes itself by drawing ink from the tank, so a near-empty tank leaves you with a fresh unit and the same pale output. PIXMA G1420 through G3470 models take GI-41 black ink, while the G5040, G6040, G7040, GM2040 and GM4040 take GI-40 black. Canon rates a black bottle at 6,000 A4 pages. Mascom International stocks both types, so one trip covers everything.
Is KSh 5,150 fair for the Canon BH-40 Print Head in Kenya?
Compare it against the alternative. A replacement PIXMA G3420 sits well above KSh 25,000 across Nairobi shops, and a workshop cleaning service rarely revives fully blocked nozzles. At KSh 5,150 you restore a working printer for roughly a fifth of replacement cost, using an original Canon part rather than a rebuilt one. Mascom International quotes the part number openly on this listing, so you can verify exactly what you are buying before ordering.
How long does a Canon BH-40 Print Head last?
Canon publishes no page rating for the head itself, because service life depends entirely on how the printer is used. Users consistently report several thousand pages before quality drops, with heavy cyber cafe workloads wearing nozzles faster than occasional home printing. Two habits stretch it further: never print with an empty tank, since air pulled into the nozzles causes damage, and print a few pages weekly so ink does not dry inside. Dust matters too during Nairobi's drier months.
Technical Specifications
Print Head Function and Ink Delivery
- Fires pigment black ink through microscopic nozzles onto paper, forming every line of text you read
- Canon FINE print head design packs nozzles densely, laying down more black ink per pass
- Handles the PGBK pigment black channel only; colour work runs through the separate CH-40 module
- Draws ink continuously from the printer's refillable tank instead of a small disposable cartridge
- Part number 3421C001 identifies the original Canon unit, matching what shipped inside your printer
- Swapping a tired head restores ink flow without touching the printer's motors or paper path
Compatible Canon Printer Models
- Fits PIXMA G1420, G2420 and G2460 desktop ink tank printers common in Kenyan home offices
- Fits PIXMA G3420, G3430, G3460 and G3470 wireless all-in-one models used across cyber cafes
- Fits PIXMA G5040, G6040 and G7040 office ink tank printers built for higher monthly volumes
- Fits PIXMA GM2040 and GM4040 mono-focused business printers used by accounting and school offices
- Does not fit machines taking BH-20, BH-30 or BH-G2 heads; verify before ordering
- Bring your printer model number to Mascom International and our counter staff confirms the match
Output Quality and Resolution Support
- Supports print resolution up to 4800 x 1200 dpi on compatible PIXMA G and GM printers
- Pigment black ink resists smudging and water, keeping invoices legible in humid Mombasa offices
- Mono print speed on the PIXMA G3420 sits at approximately 9.1 images per minute
- Sharp black edges matter for barcodes, QR codes and KRA documents scanned by third parties
- A worn head shows as banding, pale grey text, or blank lines appearing mid-page
- Fresh nozzles return solid black density on the plain 80gsm copier paper sold across Nairobi
Ink Bottle and Maintenance Cartridge Pairing
- PIXMA G1420, G2420, G2460, G3420, G3430, G3460 and G3470 use GI-41 PGBK black ink
- PIXMA G5040, G6040, G7040, GM2040 and GM4040 use the GI-40 PGBK black ink bottle
- Canon rates black yield at 6,000 A4 pages, rising to 7,600 pages in economy mode
- Economy mode lowers black ink density and returns about 26 percent more pages per bottle
- Maintenance cartridge MC-G02 serves the G1420 to G3470 group; MC-G01 serves the G5040 group
- Mascom International stocks GI-40 and GI-41 bottles beside this head, so one trip covers both
Fitting Procedure and Handling
- Switch the printer off at the wall before opening the cover, protecting the electrical contacts
- Lift the locking lever, remove the old black head, then seat the replacement in its bay
- Peel the protective tape and dust cap only at the moment of fitting, never earlier
- Never touch the gold contact plate or the nozzle face with fingers, cloth or tissue
- Close the lever fully, then run the head alignment routine from the printer control panel
- A first-time fitting takes most users under ten minutes and requires no tools whatsoever
Storage, Care and Service Life
- Keep the sealed pouch out of direct sunlight and store it below 30 degrees Celsius
- Print a few pages weekly, because idle nozzles dry out fastest in dusty Nairobi air
- Run a nozzle check before deep cleaning, since every cleaning cycle consumes stored black ink
- Never let the black tank run dry, as air entering the head shortens its life
- Head life tracks page volume; heavy cyber cafe use wears nozzles faster than home printing
- Keep the old head boxed until the replacement prints correctly, in case the diagnosis changes
Package Contents
Every Canon BH-40 Print Head sold at Mascom International arrives brand new and sealed. Inside the retail pack you receive:
- One Canon BH-40 Print Head, part number 3421C001, in a sealed protective pouch
- Protective nozzle tape and dust cap already fitted to the unit
- Canon documentation and handling instructions
- Mascom International warranty card
Note:Fitting guidance is available over the counter, or on WhatsApp if you prefer installing it yourself at home or in the office.
Warranty
The Canon BH-40 Print Head carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty covering manufacturing defects. Cover applies to units that fail to prime, refuse recognition by the printer, or show dead nozzle rows straight out of the pouch. Damage caused by dry running, contact handling, or third-party ink falls outside cover. Our Nairobi CBD service desk handles every claim directly.
Where to Buy the Canon BH-40 Print Head in Kenya
The Canon BH-40 Print Head is on the shelf now at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and bring your printer model number so our counter staff can confirm the fit before you pay.
Order through any of the following:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Mascom International ships the Canon BH-40 Print Head across all 47 Kenyan counties with pay-on-arrival delivery, so you settle up only once the part reaches you. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery. All other major cities and towns, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri and Kakamega, receive next-business-day delivery. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Every unit is backed by the 6-month Mascom warranty above, with claims coordinated at our Nairobi CBD service desk.
Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for honest part numbers, current pricing, and printer spares that actually match the machine on the desk. Our team also stocks GI-40 and GI-41 ink bottles, MC-G01 and MC-G02 maintenance cartridges, and the matching CH-40 colour head.
