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.