What service manual is better?

[redright9]

I am looking for a service manual.. I see the Seloc and a Clymers.. Any recomendations? The Clymers seems to be more year specific, maybe more detailed about my specific engine/drive?

 

[proaudioguy]

Re: What service manual is better?

I have both. Not sure that is the answer you were looking for. I like the Seloc better, but it's hard to explain why. When I need to do something I read the entire section in BOTH to get my head wrapped around what I'm doing. Still some of the descriptions with step by step photos that have been posted on this forum have been far more useful than the manuals.

 

[xeddog]

Re: What service manual is better?

I'm "in the same boat" as proaudioguy. I have both and use both. It just depends on what I am doing as to which is better. Sometimes it takes both and sometimes neither is worth a sh . . . uh . . . darn. Lots of experts on this site though.

Wayne

 

[MRS]

Re: What service manual is better?

Factory is the only way to fly, What are you looking for? The two you mention are not very reliable. I have a 1986 omc cobra and found all the factory manuals for mine.

 

[xeddog]

Re: What service manual is better?

WHERE???? I have a 1987 Cobra.

Wayne

 

[woosterken]

Re: What service manual is better?

here is some OMC info check it out................

http://www.sterndrive.info/id24.html

woosterken

 

[MRS]

Re: What service manual is better?

WHERE???? I have a 1987 Cobra.

Wayne

I found them on E-bay cannot remember who I got them from but will look and pm you if I still have the info. There are a few that have a lot of manuals for omc cobras check it out type in your year and should be able to find one.....

 

[redright9]

Re: What service manual is better?

I have a 1996 SeaRay 190 with the 5.7L merc, and a merc outdrive. I am looking for a manual that will help me perform general maintainance with some help with repairs. Right now I have a cooling issue I was wanting to look into.

 

[MRS]

Re: What service manual is better?

You should be able to find that on ebay look for the factory one if you are going to be working on your own boat it will save you a lot of work in the long run...

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: What service manual is better?

Get the OEM manual. I just got mine for a 89 OMC / Cobra.

I have the Seloc too and it SUCKS. The OEM one is 1000 times better. The wiring diagrams are in color, the pictures/illustrations are clear and easy to see, and the exploded diagrams are much easier to use.

The Seloc manual is almost unuseable.

Just search eBay for OMC manual. You'll find quite a few. I saw two or three sellers that have almost every year OEM OMC manuals.

I got mine brand new for $60. The Seloc POS I paid $40 for.

Here's one seller with a ton of em.

http://stores.ebay.com/SEARAYMAN13

 

[four winns 214]

Re: What service manual is better?

My ranking for 1984 Sea Ray:

Mercruiser OEM manual-- the best

Seloc-- OK, but lacks detail

Clymer-- Sucks. I returned it. Contained few instances of incredibly inaccurate information. Couldn't trust it.

For 2002 Four Winns 214:

Volvo Penta OEM manuals.

 

[Al-53]

Re: What service manual is better?

Get the OEM manual it is engine specific and not engines from 20-250 hp...it will have all the test procedures for that engine when u need to trouble shoot them....what would you want a book with 15 pages on your motor or one with 150 pages on your motor...

there is cost difference.but in the long run one repair you made saving you a shops hourly rate pays for it self in no time.....

Al

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: What service manual is better?

WHERE???? I have a 1987 Cobra.

Wayne

Man,This is a deal...usually 50 bucks or more if you find one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...30467984923QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

 

[JoLin]

Re: What service manual is better?

TWO manuals- factory and Seloc. Along with a 'parts' manual/catalog, and an owner's manual if you can find one.

The 'sometimes' issue with factory manuals is that they're written for trained mechanics using factory tools and test equipment. The instructions are not always intuitive for the weekend wrench-twirler. With the parts catalog and 2 manuals providing the same instructions in 2 different ways, I could always figure it out.

The owner's manual will have basic operation and maintenance instructions, and is a heckuva lot quicker to reference (and usually easier to understand) than a shop manual.

My .02

 

[redright9]

Re: What service manual is better?

Please forgive me...I guess I either had a long day at work or I am really this unsmart. I was checking over ebay for a manual, how do I know which one I need? They all seem to say Mercruiser #13 or #25... I don't get how to tell which one will let me work on the outdrive/engine of my boat.

 

[hretter]

Re: What service manual is better?

redright9,
This page shows manual #s to engines:

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=103451