Best engine manual

[Burritoeater]

Im planning on doing some work on my 1990 mercury outboard. I havent had much experiance with small engie work so im planning on getting a guide. Based you all your experiance what is the most helpful guide?

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Best engine manual

As I've learned, try to locate the original service manual from Mercury. check http://www.kencook.com, your local marine parts supplier or even ebay.com

Good luck

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Best engine manual

Direct link to Kencook manuals is as follows.

http://www.outboardbooks.com/

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Best engine manual

While frequently disparaged on this forum, I have found that the Clymer and Selcoc manuals contain good general information, instructions, and tutorial type explanations that the Mercury manual does not. The Mercury manual on the other hand has more detailed step by step instructions and drawings that describe more clearly how to perform a particular task. As a newbie owner of my first outboard motor (150hp), I got all three manauls and I am glad that I did. I learned something from each one. I considered the additional cost for all three manuals as minor compared to what I was saving doing all the work myself and the other costs of boat ownership. That is my experience.... However, if you are committed to getting only one manual, then the Mercury manual is by far the best choice.

 

[noahnsteph]

Re: Best engine manual

I picked up the Clymer Mercury Service-Repair Handbook for 50-200hp ouboards from 1964-1979 from the local library. I have a 1973 Mercury 650 and since I work for a print shop I scanned all the pertinant info for my motor and it wound up being 72 pages out of the total 181 pages in the book so I was pretty impressed by the amount of info considering it covers many different models.

I'm still working on tracking down a factory Mercury service manual but this should help me out in the meantime.

Just shows it never hurts to try the neighborhood library once and a while. It's kinda nice to finally get something out of all the taxes I pay.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Best engine manual

From my experience, stay away for Seloc's. Worst manual by far. Very generic and poor organization/layout. Very difficult to follow and understand.

The Clymers were pretty good. Great illustrations, easy to follow instructions and logically presented. A good book for the DIY'er.

The shop manuals are much more technical and are very detailed. Not presented from a laymans point of view.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[mike64]

Re: Best engine manual

Check eBay-- you might find your oem manual for sale cheap if you're lucky. If not, then outboardbooks.com, as mentioned.