Epson 3880 sudden compete single color stoppage

I recently installed a LK (light black) third party cartridge on my Epson 3880.  It was running fine for a series of small test prints and two large 16-24 prints, I assumed I was into the new ink by then,...then suddenly the color output morphed.  A nozzle check showed nothing at all for the LK and a cleaning cycle did not solve the problem.

I checked the (3rd party) cartridge to be sure there were no covered air holes I did not catch to uncover....been there, done that with other printers, and it looked fine.

The manual really does not address the problem of a sudden, single, complete color failure.  I wish I could isolate printing a single "color" only....as I can with my OLD 3 color EP 3000's

My options are, as I see them, to run a large number of cleaning cycles and if that fails buy an OEM cartridge and repeat cleaning cycles and if that fails take in for repair.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

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Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com