Clymer service manuals

[Jim Bronson]

Are these as good as the HD manuals? They sure are way cheaper.

[Ohio HD]

They only cover some topics well. They're in no way as detailed as HD manuals.

[Hossamania]

You get what you pay for.
Post a request in the "Want to Buy" section, someone may have one for much less than new.

[Rockout Rocker Products]

They tell you enough to make you wish you never started the job in the first place.

Guys in surgically clean white shop coats telling you "assembly is the reverse of disassembly".

[JW113]

If you're new to the world of HD ownership, they are OK for general maintenance. Think of it as a slightly more detailed version of your owners manual. For anything beyond that, ain't no substitute for TFSM.

Of course, just my humble opinion!

-JW

[FSG]

Of course, just my humble opinion!

and that of many others      

[Jim Bronson]

Well OK then. I guess I'll bite the proverbial bullet. Thanks for helping me decide.

[Ohio HD]

Watch on ebay, sometimes they show up used at a lower price.

[chopper]

Get the parts manual, too.  It's every bit as helpful as the shop manuals.  Plus, when you need to get parts, you can look them up yourself, and get the RIGHT ones!

[JW113]

 

Although, you can generally find them on line for free at some of the H-D dealership websites. That said, I have a paper one for every model I own.

-JW

[crock]

Get the parts manual, too.  It's every bit as helpful as the shop manuals.  Plus, when you need to get parts, you can look them up yourself, and get the RIGHT ones!

And the parts book can sometimes help you better understand how things go together better as they have detailed exploded views

[smoserx1]

If you are already a fairly good do-it-yourselfer the Clymer manuals are OK.  I had two Gold Wings years ago and Clymers are all I used, and I usually got by with Haynes and Chilton Manuals for the cars I owned.  Now my main reference source for anything I need to repair is youtube.  I also used a Motors manual decades ago to learn about air conditioning theory and ended up retrofitting a car with no factory air with parts obtained from a junkyard (that was a 40 hour project...talk about a nightmare), and it worked fine for years.  Now I am certified in refrigerant recovery and recycling.  Anyway, with all mechanical skills you just have to get your hands dirty and do it.... and not be afraid to take something apart.

And I agree 100% about the parts book.  I pretty much could not live without that.  Go ahead and take my FSM away and I will be fine (I'll use a Clymer or none at all).  But keep your hands off my parts book.  That item is a Godsend.

Finally if you really want to increase your mechanical education I recommend getting a copy of the Goodheart-Wilcox Automotive Encyclopedia by Toboldt and Johnson.  I got a copy years ago and read it cover to cover and almost could not put it down except to sleep.  If your mechanical education/ability is weak, that book will change that.  Used editions are available at Amazon (and other places) dirt cheap.

[Scooterfish]

Get the HD factory service and parts manuals. Comparing the the cost of the 2 manuals to an hour or so of shop labor they will pay for themselves quickly.

[04rkryder]

Don"t forget the Electronics Manual. Godsent when
trouble shooting trouble codes

[Jim Bronson]

I found a service manual, but I can't find a parts book. Anyone have any ideas?

[FSG]

Anyone have any ideas?

keep looking ....  epray, FB, etc

in the meantime there's always the Online HD SIP Stuff

as well as the HTT Section

[Ohio HD]

One of these?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224643705628?hash=item344dceeb1c:g:pAwAAOSwzNZhZGSM

[JW113]

Since this is out there in the web-verse for anybody to use, I hope I don't get in Dutch with the admins:

https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/ronnies/showmodel.asp?make=hdmc

-JW

[kd]

One of these?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224643705628?hash=item344dceeb1c:g:pAwAAOSwzNZhZGSM

A $120 manual for $40. 

[Jim Bronson]

One of these?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224643705628?hash=item344dceeb1c:g:pAwAAOSwzNZhZGSM

That's the one. Got it! Many thanks.

[Ohio HD]

One of these?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224643705628?hash=item344dceeb1c:g:pAwAAOSwzNZhZGSM

That's the one. Got it! Many thanks.

Your welcome.

[Dan89flstc]

I don`t think the parts manuals are high priced even from the dealer.

The electrical diagnostics manual is only about 50 bucks.

The service manual is the expensive one.

[Ohio HD]

That one, 99439-13A runs $68 at the dealership.

[kd]

The OEM service manuals are well over $100 Canadian up here.