Where do all the Owners Manuals go?

CincyFlyer · Aug 6, 2017

Wagtail said:
It's a conundrum that I see constantly here on TBN... missing Owners Manuals.

Presumably every new tractor had one when they were first delivered to their owner, yet the moment (it seems) the tractor is sold the Owners Manual (and the meticulous maintenance records that the previous owner kept up to date in that manual) disappears! I've even seen requests for Owners Manuals from new owners because the manual didn't show up with the tractor (or implement).

So, two things come to mind; a) Where do they go? [like a sock in a dryer :confused3:]

And b) Perhaps Muhammad/TBN could set up an on-line library of Owners Manuals... maybe even Service Manuals, for TBN members? Something that wouldn't infringe any copyright.

Ya know, in some cases (my Mahindra 2540) the included owner's manual isn't worth the paper it's printed upon! It's rife with errors (including simple stuff, such as the number of transmission speeds!) OTOH, the manual that came with the Mahindra backhoe is certainly much better (although it makes assumptions that you are quite familiar with the tractor in the installation instructions) and comes with hints on how to dig different types of excavations.
I'm picky about these things because my company does technical documentation for the aviation industry, a very picky group (with the FAA and EASA breathing down their necks!)

k0ua · Aug 6, 2017

I know where the owners manual for my tractor is. It is right beside my chair where I can refer to it to help others. Having read it over and over myself.:laughing: I also have an electronic copy of the manual on my server in PDF form. On my last Kubota, I had the paper copy as was delivered with the tractor, but I went to the trouble to make a pdf manual from scanned pages of the paper manual. That was a PITA, but I "got-er-done". I still have it. even though I don't have the tractor or the paper manual any more.

By the way errant socks, turn in to wire coat hangers. It is the only explanation to why we lose socks, but seem to "gain" hangers... That is all I know.

bigtiller · Aug 6, 2017

I take my manuals out of the tube and place them under a heavy book for a few days and then into a file cabinet. They are nearly impossible to read out in the field, in the wind without your glasses when the "page memory" insists on rolling into a tight scroll.

sandman2234 · Aug 6, 2017

LouNY said:
They get put where they won't get lost,
and are never seen again

I have a bunch of Allis Chalmers B, C, and CA manuals and assorted ones that go with these tractors. I went looking for the folder that holds all of them, and it has disappeared, so I have a tractor with a magneto problem that i haven't been able to fix. I will surely be glad to find that pile of manuals...soon!!
David from jax

4get gto · Aug 6, 2017

I keep all mine in a cabinet in the garage.

k0ua · Aug 6, 2017

4get gto said:
I keep all mine in a cabinet in the garage.

View attachment 517708

Aw, man!.. Make us all look like sloth's will ya. That is entirely too neat and organized.

4get gto · Aug 6, 2017

k0ua said:
Aw, man!.. Make us all look like sloth's will ya. That is entirely too neat and organized.

:laughing:

And no socks either!

buckeyefarmer · Aug 6, 2017

I wonder why the tractor manufactures dont have them on their web site in pdf format. Most Any other thing i buy, i can get a pdf manual free. Many times i download a pdf and read to see if i want a particular item. But with tractors, they are treated as a rare artifact.
Bought a round baler recently, i asked for the manual. They said it was somewhere in the house, will call you.... Never called. Bought a photocopy on fleabay, barely readable.

With that said, i traded in my L3130 yrs ago, and recently came across the manual. So if you need one, an original manual must be worth more than the tractor by now.

flyerdan · Aug 6, 2017

There are three sites that I have bookmarked that have various manuals, everyone should bookmark them as I post links to them here quite often. Maybe have a sticky for faq resources.

Manuals Online - User supplied docs for a variety of appliances and yard care items, some heavy equipment. Might be a service manual there as well,
if it doesn't show up there, try

ManualsLib - More user supplied manuals, more likely to find a service or parts book here, it's becoming my first go to.

Liberated Manuals - This is a very comprehensive listing of government printed manuals for the stuff they procure, in the never ending tradition of reinventing the wheel, they print their own manuals.
The up side is that they are copyright free and freely distributable, the downsize is that they are titled in govermenteese, using CTRL-F and a keyword helps find relevant items in this otherwise quagmire.