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I have always read the owners manual with any machine I have, car/truck/tractor/washer/dryer/pool filter, etc. Great info in a manual. I have a file cabinet just for manuals. I know now you can get them online, but before that the paper manual is good reading so you know how to run your machine right so it will last. "But thats just me"

gfp55 said:

I have always read the owners manual with any machine I have, car/truck/tractor/washer/dryer/pool filter, etc. Great info in a manual. I have a file cabinet just for manuals. I know now you can get them online, but before that the paper manual is good reading so you know how to run your machine right so it will last. "But thats just me"

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I do the same!

I read them, the more expensive the toy, the more thoroughly I read !!

gfp55 said:

I have always read the owners manual with any machine I have, car/truck/tractor/washer/dryer/pool filter, etc. Great info in a manual. I have a file cabinet just for manuals. I know now you can get them online, but before that the paper manual is good reading so you know how to run your machine right so it will last. "But thats just me"

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Huh, I do that too. Cell phone manuals are turning into novels though :confused2:

Guess I will be the odd man out again.

I do not read them I already know how to use a mower and make a phone call.

Carscw said:

Guess I will be the odd man out again.

I do not read them I already know how to use a mower and make a phone call.

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I'm like you, you read one there all basically the same. Generally if I read a manual I do it before I buy the mower and I get instruction from my dealer on all the bells and whistles before leaving the dealership. I do keep all the manuals and receipts in my office in the filing cabinet from all the equipment.

Yes, I read them, but I do so in installments.

Why?

Well, as in the case of my Tundra truck manual has the thickness of a big city phone book. This is a lot of information to digest.

So, I'll read a chapter a day or less...and sometimes, I even understand what they're saying, sometime not so much...

As in the case of my Toro manual which was reasonably short, but worded as clear as Chinese algebra.

What did I do to clear up matters?

I called and called and with dogged determination finally got through to a technician. We went over a section of the manual I was confused about. Ultimately, the technician said that section of the manual made no sense at all. He was looking at the same page and paragraph that left us both scratching our heads.

I not only wonder who writes these things, but who proof reads them, or not...?

Service part of the manual I read it several times, but that is about all.

Think about how much less traffic places like this would have if people just read their user's manuals.
:laughing:

Bob E said:

Think about how much less traffic places like this would have if people just read their user's manuals.
:laughing:

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Hello, is anybody out there...................................................................................

I've been a mechanic for all my life who needs a manual

Just chuck them in the recycle bin

LazerZLandscaping said:

I've been a mechanic for all my life who needs a manual

Just chuck them in the recycle bin

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Its always nice to give someone who buys a machine from me the Owners manual with all the service records and receipts to prove they are getting a well cared for machine. "But thats just me"

I have operators and repair manuals for just about any truck tractor and piece of equipment.
They are invaluable refer material if one does all maintenance and repairs himself like me with 45 years mechanic experience on just about every kind of farm and industrial equipment around
It takes a lot of guesses out of the game.
No one knows it all...although some people think they do,...i ain't one of them.

As was previously posted, I also read manuals Prior to a purchase..

But I save them also, just in case I need to check for service list, etc. particularly if it is a new style machine to me.. Like my ZTR is.. But I did grow up on excavating equipment..

Wrenching & operating..

And when I sold my 2008 46" Craftsman, I had all documentation for the new owner, & that helped..

when I first bought my house my GF bagged up all the owners manuals she saw. we stopped dating long time ago now but I still don't know where she hid the manuals but most of them I've down loaded and read but I would like to find the hard copys

I just got a new Kubota ZTR. I've read the owners manual cover to cover (except for the Spanish portion). In a way I wish I hadn't. I raised more questions than it answered:

1. Everyone says to do the first oil change at 15 hours. Owners manual just specifies 1st oil change at 100 hours. Do I listen to experienced real world users or do I listen to what the manufacturer says to do with the equipment they make and sell?

2. In the manual it shows an LED work light kit as an available accessory. Unfortunately Kubota doesn't actually make a kit like this. WTF?

Sometimes ignorance is bliss........

Just my 02 cents...

But I would want the 'break-in' oil' & filter changed early.. That's when all the new parts are getting mated to their locations, lots a srcubbing going on, particularly with the piston rings & cylinder wall(s).. Don't want that in you oil do ya ?

My Toro Z w/ Kawasaki V-twin, called for it being done @ 8 hrs..

I have been building engines since I was a kid in the 70's. Fresh oil & filter are cheap insurance to start off the new engine to a long healthy life..

gfp55 said:

I have always read the owners manual with any machine I have, car/truck/tractor/washer/dryer/pool filter, etc. Great info in a manual. I have a file cabinet just for manuals. I know now you can get them online, but before that the paper manual is good reading so you know how to run your machine right so it will last. "But thats just me"

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I'll skim through them but usually I just keep them somewhere and let them collect dust.

LazerZLandscaping said:

I've been a mechanic for all my life who needs a manual

Just chuck them in the recycle bin

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One might get by without a manual for a simple lawn mower but I would like to see how you would fare with trouble shooting and repair of electrical problems on today's vehicles and machinery without a manual,. and i don't care how long you've been mechanic but with an attitude like you know it all you can't be a good one.

That is the stupidest thing i've heard in a long time

I not only read the Owner's Manual cover-to-cover, but I also normally pop for the appropriate Shop Manual(s). Can't have too much information.