Clymers vs Factory Service manual
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
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 .?
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 .?
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
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.
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.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,202
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
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.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
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).
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
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.