Which manual do you prefer?

[cmonney]

I have a 1988 85hp Force that I'd like to buy a manual for. I checked out the e-bay listings and found a few different ones. Having no knowledge of these manuals, which do y'all prefer? I'm purchasing because I'd like to be able to do some basic maintenance, but keep in mind that I am in no way a mechanic. I'm also thinking about removing the lower unit for skeg repair and I don't want to screw anything up.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[galillo]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

I will say SELOC this one have a very ggod description on the lower unit.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

OEM manual is by far the best.

 

[john from md]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

#1 OEM

#2 Clymer

#3 Seloc

OEM is the best but is also the most expensive.

John

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

You can get OEM manuals on CD off ebay.
I have a clymer manual for my chrysler, but I had an OEM manual for a Johnson motor I had before and it was leaps and bounds better than the clymer manual is.
I supplement the clymer with help from the forum.

 

[1fullforce]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

jesse from nc agrees with john from md 100%

 

[john from md]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

As to the CD's on ebay, I have questioned most of the sellers as to wether or not they were OEM manuals. Most said they could not be certain that they were.

Caveat Emptor

John

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

If you don't plan on getting your greasy fingerprints all over your laptop, buy the book not the cd.

 

[kinggabbo]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

Factory manual is best. BUt Clymer is good too in my opinion. I have both for my 1996 Force 120

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

Best Choices:

1. Factory manual tells you what to do in detail AND why you do it.

2. Clymers tells you what to do, sometimes in a bit less detail and does not tell you why.

3. I have no direct experience, but the consensus here on the forum is that Seloc is not as good as either of the above.

4. Right on about the book: While laptops are cleanable, it is easier to read from a written page. Any CD would be my last choice.

5. There is a manual called Intertech which covers all brand engines. It is published by the same people who print Clymers. While it is necessarily not as detailed as a brand specific manual, it has some useful information in it that is not in the factory or Clymers. If you can find it at your local library, it is a good adjunct to whatever manual you do end up buying.

 

[cmonney]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

I knew I could count on you forum folk for great info. Thanks everyone.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

As to the CD's on ebay, I have questioned most of the sellers as to wether or not they were OEM manuals. Most said they could not be certain that they were.

Caveat Emptor

John

This is too true...the 'OEM' cd I purchased from eBay, turned out to be a very poorly scanned copy of the SELOC that I already owned. And being a PDF file, you could not do a word search.

I called SELOC to report the pirating, and they said that they were aware of this...but there was too much of this going on, to stop.

eBay has a complaint form for receiving pirated goods...but they have not done anything about this seller, to date.

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

I guess my only cd experience is a johnson manual from ebay, it was the factory manual and it was awesome, you could print the pages you needed that way you don't get your book all greasy.

 

[1fullforce]

Re: Which manual do you prefer?

!! beaware of the pirates they are everywhere!!!