I bought Clymer service manual for my 96 fxdl and I find it totaly useless.When my fuel gauge stoped working I looked into Clymer- and there is nothing about this subject.Now I'm replacing neck bearings, Clymer says heat up bearing on the stem with the torch,it will come off.No way Jose,the bearing is hot,everything else also hot,and bearing does'nt move.Have to go and see my body in motorcycle shop tomorow. What's your opinion about this manual. I think I 'll go and buy Harley one.Mat
There is no substitute for the Factory Service Manual for your specific bike. I would also add the Factory Parts Manual too. If you get into the wiring, then you'll need the Factory Wiring Manual.
My experience with the Clymer's, Haynes, etc. is that; they 'fill' the book with a whole bunch of useless crap (tools, fastner sizes, etc.), spend too much time showing (in limited detail) how to rebuild a motor, explaining the smog crap,and totally miss the point on everything else.
I would only use any of those manuals for any of my vehicals if it was an absolute emergency. I'll always pay for the factory service manaual because getting the right information is priceless to me.
I prefer the OEM service manual. However, I also like to get Clymers opinion of the subject as well....which is basically use it as a supplement.
The Clymer is handy to have around.....if you tend to work on other bikes often where it is just nearly impracticle to own every HD manual ever to come out.
Prefer the HD service manual,but have the others as a cross reference. Nice to have somethimes if your are foggy about something. Re: the bearing, if you need to use heat to remove any bearing use a rosebud,heat it quickly and evenly. If the heat goes thru bearing and tranfers elsewhere it is as stuck as it was before you started. Most are surprized how little it takes. Don't take that wrong because I am not there to see what you may be dealing with, just saying it takes suprizingly little heat most of the time. Good luck.
ORIGINAL: Hackd
...If you get into the wiring, then you'll need the Factory Wiring Manual.
My experience with the Clymer's, Haynes, etc. is that; they 'fill' the book with a whole bunch of useless crap (tools, fastner sizes, etc.), spend too much time showing (in limited detail) how to rebuild a motor, explaining the smog crap,and totally miss the point on everything else...
Huh...I've found just the opposite. I've got a Clymer for 91-98 FXD's that I bought first. The only things I don't like about it that it has too many years covered and that some of the 96 - 98 stuff was supplemented in at the back. Other than that, I found that more often than not, the Clymer is way more detailed than my FSM. I would've never guessed. It also has colored wire diagrams and a more comprehensive troubleshooting section than the FSM.
The torch should work. You just have to concentrate the heat more on the race and less on the stem. If I had my FSM in the house I'd check it for ya. Maybe later if no one else responds.
Clymer is helpful on some items and useless on others, but since I bought my HD factory service manual, I use them both. Usually I can find what I want in one or the other. Like post above said. The wiring diagram in the Clymer is helpful.
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1998 FXDWG 95th Ann. #1648 of 1998 EVO LIVES
Lake Okeechobee area
Southern Division of the Florida Crew
the one reference manual that I use with FSM is the factory parts manual, it has exploded view drawingings of the pieces that need to come apart, which I find very helpful, when taking aprt something like the front end...springs, legs, seals and the like....also i write down any needed parts numbers an bring them to my local dealership ...this way I know I'm going to get the right parts the first time
your experience with Clymer
