Manual Survey

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I love the Tyvek coated pages and spiral binding idea. Being able to print a manual page or section out off a CD or the web would be nice, too. That way I can get it sweaty, dirty, greasy or whatever and just throw... err... recycle it when I'm done with whatever maintenance task I was performing.

There's one negative to Tyvek and that is that it doesn't copy well at all.

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>There's one negative to Tyvek and that is that it doesn't copy well at all. </font color=blue>

This feature might be a plus for a publisher of copyrighted material./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Turfman]

Two things I'd like to see:
1) a downloadable from the web site manual (that gets updated as needed) in PDF format.
2) Elimination of the labels on the attachment that say things like: "If you drop this on your foot you could be injured." I know the lawyers require these things but we need to let reason and owner responsibility come into play here. If I lower my box blade on my foot I know that I'll be injured. But "King's X" the blade has a label that no one ever reads that warns me of the possibility of injury. Sounds good in court, but a label on an item never stopped people from sueing. See the label on a cigarette pack and notice the suits anyway.

Turfman

 

[JimMc]

I agree with the part about number 2, but try to buy manufacturer's liability insurance without what they call "proper labelling". I've always been too embarrassed to tell anyone of I do something stupid and get hurt, let alone sue over it and let the whole world know I'm an idiot. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[GSS]

Definitely a good idea. At least have them available online for anyone to download. Printing CD's might add to the price, but a small pdf or even jpg of the appropriate page would be key!

- G

 

[GSS]

I second that. Might be pricey to bring people in to test the manual, so just ask new customers to provide their feedback on the manual for the item they purchased. Your "phone people" could even ask a few questions to purchasers to determine whether they are new to this particular piece of equipment. Those that are could get a questionaire with their order asking for feedback. Those that return it could maybe get a coupon for $$ off their next purchase.

Send me a new piece of equipment every month (to use, of course. I'll return it.) and I'll give you all the feedback you need!

- G

 

[JimMc]

We have the most applications for test pilot I've ever seen! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[dmccarty]

JimMc,

Most of what I want in a manual others have already covered.

Getting people to test the products and the manuals can
be expensive....

But you might be able to get some AG students in HS or
college who might be interested in the work. Depending on
their background they might not even be familar with the
equipment and students usually work cheap. Basically do a
demo day or week at a school or a location you can bring
the students to "play" with the equipment and see how the
manuals work.

Failing that option, I live in Cary with family out towards
Rocky Mount and my property is in Chatham County. So I'm
near Wilson and drive by a couple of times a year. It sure
would not be a problem to drive by and pick up some
equipment and maunals to test. And I'm half serious with this
offer! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Later,
Dan McCarty

 

[Ozarker]

Testing the manual is not expensive and testing the equipment shouldn't be required. I assume equipment testing was done during the R&D phase prior to the release of the final product.

Testing the manual is as simple as hiring a high school kid for minimum wage. What you want to know is can someone who knows nothing about the implement attach it or service it using nothing but the manual and required tools.

For example: If there is a step by step procedure for lubing the finish mower in the manual, can the novice complete the service by those instructions or does he get confused by them. Can he understand and do the before, during and after operational checks by the manual instructions alone or does he have to ask questions?

Do that with four or five different students and you will have a good idea how good your instructions are and what needs to be clarified based on the questions asked.

Do the same for instructions such as attaching the implement and making adjustments before operation. If a pry bar is needed sometimes to attach the implement, the manual should say so and say where to pry.

 

[bnixon]

I like the part about "where to pry". Some implements are odvious others are not!

 

[Ozarker]

I've seen guys pry against anything.

I have a full sized Chevy Conversion Van that lost a timing chain while I was doing about 70mph on I-70 about 10 years ago. Of course the valves stopped moving immediately but the pistons didn't. After I coasted to a stop, I got to call a friend and tow it the rest of the way home.

Not having a lot of time and needing it fixed quickly, I sent it to a local garage to have a rebuilt short block installed.

When I got it back, the engine cover didn't seem to fit right so I took it off. One of the morons who worked at the shop had apparently used a pry bar to move the engine for some reason but he had used the sheet metal around the engine cover hole to pry against. Took me half a day with body hammers to straighten up all that sheet metal so that the cover fit back on and sealed.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

One thing I hate. Manuals in 12 languages that say NOTHING.

Get a hold of a Pitney Bowes manual and try to change something on their postage meter. That will tech you how NOT to do a manual/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Manuals on the website is the very best. Of course, there needs to be a clear indication as to which model revision one covers, and which I have...

 

[dgood1]

One thing that a lot of you seem to have forgotten.

Not everyone has access to the Internet, and some of those that do have access don't know how to use it or are intimidated by it.

Just food for thought.

Don

 

[dgood1]

Ozarker,

I would have to add brakes to your device for use in my parking area.

Don