What are your thoughts for us do it yourselfers. Clymers manual or Factory harley service manual?

 

The factory service manual is a much better investment than a Cylmers .... More specific information ... larger pages ..... clearer pictures!

 

Clymers / Haynes etc. are generic manuals which leave you guessing as to what year / model etc. the procedure is supposed to apply to. A factory manual is much more expensive but is worth every dime if you are a serious wrencher.
Note that i mean a serious wrencher who needs specific and thorough procedures to accomplish very technical procedures. If your looking for basic info. a Clymer etc. will do. Your choise .?

 

Factory shop manual. Accept no substitutes.

 

Nothing beats the factory manual.

 

No offense, but you aren't really serious about this. Right?

I have never seen a Clymer/Chiltons/Haynes manual for ANY bike, ATV, snowmobile, etc that is worth a crap. ALWAYS get the factory shop manual. ALWAYS.
Cars are different. Chiltons does, or used to do a great job with car manuals. Well, except Mercedes manuals. Most sections in a Mercedes manual start out something like this. "A Mercedes such and such is a complicated device and should ONLY be serviced by a trained Mercedes mechanic. Therefore this section has been intentionally left blank." Yeah, Mercedes manuals are the thinnest manuals you can buy. And probably the most complicated vehicle you can buy.,
Sorry I got sorta off subject there. Harley factory service manual only.

 

Mercedes factory shop manuals are good. At least the 3 set I had for the 220D I used to own. Very well written, once you figured out how the index system worked.

 

I wouldn't waste the money on a Clymer manual. Get the appropriate FSM for your year and model Harley. AND: Get the appropriate FPM (factory parts manual).

 

Clymers suck.The factory manual is 100 times better.

 

the problem with a cheap manual is for anything more technical then changing the oil, it says take it to a qualified mechanic.. a clymer manual will get you by on a shovel or ironhead, but anything newer is a lot more complicated and needs a factory manual.