Reading the Owners Manuals

[tibadoe]

......... Ask them for a year or model and you get a blank stare. VIN numbers were almost never able to be supplied.........

Pricing a belt for the Toro WH last month and gave them the part # they needed before they asked. Said they would sell unless I had Serial # & model # so they could look it up. Dealer said in the past they had too many returns for incorrect part #'s supplied by customers. They about fell in the floor when I read them both to them. But pleasantly surprised that I was correct on my part #. I thought everyone knew how to get part #'s and cross reference them.

 

[rademamj1]

Not true. I downloaded the OM in PDF from Deere for my X584 for free off - Technical Information Store.

A copy now resides on my computer, my phone, and the hard copy in my file in the shop.

I was not aware of this John Deere technical document site. It certainly does have all the operator manuals for all equipment types available. I did actually read the operators manual for a 1025R North American model. But i was asked to pay $42.56 for download of permanent copy. It's a small cost.

I choose the 1025R because I sort of love that machine, and am considering a second tractor.

 

[JethroB]

I found one online a year before I got my tractor and knew far more about the unit than my salesman. When I took delivery everything was familiar.

:thumbsup: Same here. I asked the salesman to throw in the first 50 hour service, he asked Me if that included the hydraulic fluid change.

 

[RickB]

Pricing a belt for the Toro WH last month and gave them the part # they needed before they asked. Said they would sell unless I had Serial # & model # so they could look it up. Dealer said in the past they had too many returns for incorrect part #'s supplied by customers. They about fell in the floor when I read them both to them. But pleasantly surprised that I was correct on my part #. I thought everyone knew how to get part #'s and cross reference them.

When I was a parts manager we had a standard note we could add directly to the invoice. "Customer supplied part numbers". If the parts were obviously wrong we had a discussion. Otherwise any mistakes were on the customer and they either owned a new part or paid restocking and return freight fees on non-stock parts.

The NAPA in Pawling NY use to have a big sign behind the counter. "If the part you bought doesn't fix your problem you have an extra part".

 

[SylvainG]

It's snowing out, stuck inside this morning. Just wondering if anyone else reads thru product Owners Manuals??? I kind of enjoy reading through them. I usually try to download them and go through it before purchase. Mainly I want an overview of what break-in & maintenance schedules will be like. Maybe I will be surprised of some cool features I did not know about. Most times, there is always something I learn that I did not know. Even though most OMs are thick, they all seem stuffed with "warnings" and "cautions" of what stupid things not to do. I find if you have some common sense, reading through one is quick, painless, and most times productive.

I was disappointed that I could not find a free pdf manual for my MF before purchase. I just finished reading through the hardcopy and picked up a few pieces of good info. Think I also looked at every review and 50 hour service video on YouTube. Service on this machine will be a breeze. Now to finish up reading the Kodiak ATV manual and decide whether or it would make a good addition to the fleet.

Yep. When you buy an expensive piece of equipment, might as well use it to its full potential, hence reading its manual is a must for me. Plus, it's better to know how to take care of it to prevent costly repairs.

I found the owner's manual for free, but loader was about a $4 download and someone here sent me an almost equivalent backhoe manual since I couldn't find one, even for sale. Found the service manual too

 

[tibadoe]

...........The NAPA in Pawling NY use to have a big sign behind the counter. "If the part you bought doesn't fix your problem you have an extra part".

Makes sense to me.

 

[WranglerX]

BUT, But, But.... Reading chapter one and the 27 pages of do's and don'ts and all the placement of the safety waring stickers is kind of a turnoff for using tractor, so since tractor sits abandon there is no need to read rest of manual....

Dale

 

[bearthebruce]

There is that.. Dale. All that safety legal mumbo jumbo.. cures insomnia.

I have found that re-reading the manuals after using the machine for a while allows me to pick a whole bunch of things I didn't process on first read. Can't tell you the number of times I have said to myself, "Oh, that's what that was meant to do!" Sometimes I think it needs to be an iterative process. Read, try, read some more, try some more.

 

[tibadoe]

There is that.. Dale. All that safety legal mumbo jumbo.. cures insomnia.

I have found that re-reading the manuals after using the machine for a while allows me to pick a whole bunch of things I didn't process on first read. Can't tell you the number of times I have said to myself, "Oh, that's what that was meant to do!" Sometimes I think it needs to be an iterative process. Read, try, read some more, try some more.

I have to say I have re-read a few of my OM's. In matter of fact I am going back through my motorcycle manual now since it's still a bit too chilly to go for a ride. Amazing how I still pick up things I didn't before.

 

[tibadoe]

Knocked out another OM while I was iced in over the weekend. Again like others - picked up something new I didn't know before.

 

[MoKelly]

Knocked out another OM while I was iced in over the weekend. Again like others - picked up something new I didn't know before.

I’ve read my tractor manual probably 5 times.

But, every time it’s time to do something, I have to get it out again and re-read that section. I can’t remember anything!!!

But, I know where to look.

MoKelly

 

[oosik]

"Reading the Owners Manuals". My tractor OM - yes, all 78 pages and several times. The OM for the Taco Wagon - NO, selected areas have been read at length. The OM for my Ram Power Wagon is 761 pages.

 

[PILOON]

I read, but also photocopy wire diagrams and often color code the circuits in question.
Easier to follow that way.

Must say it would be nice if wire stamping wires* (like aviation does) would sure make trouble shooting a breeze.
And the more sophisticated the systems get the more that will be necessary.

On my car I learned that I had features that weren't listed in manual.
Perhaps I got an 'X' or there were simply spare parts that they wished to use up.

* helped trouble shoot one of those huge municipal blowers and all their wires were wire stamped.
Man, about as complicated as an airliner wiring schematic.
Corrosion was the main culprit. Blowing salty snow sure takes it's toll on wire connections.

 

[Citydude]

I guess I'm the odd ball here. Three tractors owned, skimmed over all of the manuals looking at the pictures. The only thing I pay attention to is the maintenance part and the fluid capacity part.

 

[Smokeydog]

The best owners manual was for the Ford 4500 backhoe. Nine separate books. Took almost a foot of shelf space. Full of details on how things worked, how to troubleshoot, repair and maintain. Most memorable was the fuel storage techniques and how the voltage regulator worked and adjust details. Textbook quality. Sure improved my mechanical knowledge.

 

[tibadoe]

I guess since we are expecting snow, sleet, and freezing rain over the next 36 hours :thumbdown: -- I'll be reading another OM.