Why are manuals not available for free download?

[santacruzer]

I looked around for hard copies of the "shop manual" for a 2008 BX 2350. I learned that a "shop manual" is useless without the "parts manual". They are sold seperately...of course.

Kubota, thru retailers sell copies directly from Kubota, printed by Kubota. The shop manual is not the best quality copy...the pictures in many cases are too dark to see much detail. Again, without the additional parts manual you might as well not spend the money for the shop manual.

I wanted hard copies and looking around, Messick's is a pretty good deal. Both manuals can be had for about $100.00 plus shipping...for the BX2350...others may be more, I don't know.

Paul

 

[RobJ]

I looked around for hard copies of the "shop manual" for a 2008 BX 2350. I learned that a "shop manual" is useless without the "parts manual". They are sold seperately...of course.

Kubota, thru retailers sell copies directly from Kubota, printed by Kubota. The shop manual is not the best quality copy...the pictures in many cases are too dark to see much detail. Again, without the additional parts manual you might as well not spend the money for the shop manual.

I wanted hard copies and looking around, Messick's is a pretty good deal. Both manuals can be had for about $100.00 plus shipping...for the BX2350...others may be more, I don't know.

Paul

Parts manuals are free from tractorsmart.com...or used to be. Search here to for the link to parts and manuals people have uploaded. Free downloads.

 

[Gibsond]

Sniggle,

I would love a copy of the B8700 and LA402 manuals! I just purchased my first tractor, used B8700 w/FEL, 4WD, BushHog, and 6 Way Blade. Seems to be a good tractor, haven't got to use it much yet. Thanks in advance!

 

[alchemysa]

Sniggle,

I would love a copy of the B8700 and LA402 manuals! I just purchased my first tractor, used B8700 w/FEL, 4WD, BushHog, and 6 Way Blade. Seems to be a good tractor, haven't got to use it much yet. Thanks in advance!

Parts manuals here. (Sure its not a B7800?)

Kubotabooks.com

 

[johnny_law]

I looked around for hard copies of the "shop manual" for a 2008 BX 2350. I learned that a "shop manual" is useless without the "parts manual". They are sold seperately...of course.

Kubota, thru retailers sell copies directly from Kubota, printed by Kubota. The shop manual is not the best quality copy...the pictures in many cases are too dark to see much detail. Again, without the additional parts manual you might as well not spend the money for the shop manual.

I wanted hard copies and looking around, Messick's is a pretty good deal. Both manuals can be had for about $100.00 plus shipping...for the BX2350...others may be more, I don't know.

Paul

As people mentioned parts manuals are available online. However, I have to say that the WSM (Work Shop Manual) I got from Kubota although black and white is excellent copy quality. Pictures can be seen clearly.

On the side - For my BX24, my only complaint is there is a discrepancy between the Shop Manual and the Owners manual when looking at the recommended oil viscosities. (I find this unacceptable) The Owner's manual calls out 15W40 for all temp ranges and the WSM only allows 10W30. I went with the 10W30 as both manuals allowed straight 10 weight below 32 deg but the Owner's manual allowed 15W40 in that temp range. I chose to be on the safe side as I use the tractor in temps below freezing. Maybe talk for another thread.

As for this thread, I agree owner manuals should be available online Work Shop Manuals should be paid for.

 

[toniKH]

Could i possibly get a copy of manual for a G1900 Kubota ride on please? (I am new to this forum!)

 

[pyro6988]

Anybody have digital copies of manuals for the L3400?

 

[TMP]

There are several manuals on kubotabooks.com not sure if they have your model but it might be worth checking

 

[jlrsn]

The only manual that I received from my dealer for free was the L39 Owner's Manual. I then purchased all the other manuals from different dealers. The best quality was from Messicks. I have a feeling that some of the dealers print up the Shop Manual from their pdf file as the quality of my L39 Shop Manual is really poor as if the printer was out of toner.

One day bootlegged "quality" pdf Kubota Service and Parts Manuals which the dealers should sell will flow around the internet for free and then Kubota won't get a penny. I have quality pdf manuals for most all my vehicles, shop equipment, motorcycles, ATVs, etc and I'd pay a reasonable amount for a good clear pdf copy. I've paid well in excess of $5k for some Service Manuals for some of the equipment that I've flown/owned/maintained and much more than that for yearly updates.

I maintain everything I own and don't trust most other mechanics. I was an FAA Designated Independent Aircraft Mechanic Examiner (DME) for Airframe and Powerplants (Oral & Practical Exams) for years and I refused to Certify many applicants that I felt should not touch a wrench. Funny thing many wound up with their A&P Certificates from other Examiners who gave the exams for the $$$ and not to better the Aviation Industry.
Jim

 

[ayelvington]

1. I strongly agree that Kubota has missed the clue bus that User Manuals are pre-sale marketing material and should be available online without cost. Doh!

2. Beware other errors in Kubota manuals. The electrical section is sketchy, and refers to a generator when U.S. models have an alternator.

3. Thanks for pointing out the oil viscosity issue. I'll ink in the correction to my book.

Al

As people mentioned parts manuals are available online. However, I have to say that the WSM (Work Shop Manual) I got from Kubota although black and white is excellent copy quality. Pictures can be seen clearly.

On the side - For my BX24, my only complaint is there is a discrepancy between the Shop Manual and the Owners manual when looking at the recommended oil viscosities. (I find this unacceptable) The Owner's manual calls out 15W40 for all temp ranges and the WSM only allows 10W30. I went with the 10W30 as both manuals allowed straight 10 weight below 32 deg but the Owner's manual allowed 15W40 in that temp range. I chose to be on the safe side as I use the tractor in temps below freezing. Maybe talk for another thread.

As for this thread, I agree owner manuals should be available online Work Shop Manuals should be paid for.

 

[elevator55]

It is not there, unfort. I will buy it off ebay.

If anyone want a copy of the following manuals, I will run a .pdf copy and email to you:

- B7800 operator manual
- LA402 FEL operator manual
- RCK-60 27B mower manual (buying, already have Ebay bid)
- G1900 Operators Manual
- 60 inch deck for the G1900

End the tyranny

I would like a copy of B7800 manual.I Would appreciate it very much. Need more people like you. thanks elevator55@comcast.net

 

[benny boy]

It is not there, unfort. I will buy it off ebay.

If anyone want a copy of the following manuals, I will run a .pdf copy and email to you:

- B7800 operator manual
- LA402 FEL operator manual
- RCK-60 27B mower manual (buying, already have Ebay bid)
- G1900 Operators Manual
- 60 inch deck for the G1900

End the tyranny

hi sniggles benny boy here from ireland can you please forward me pdf file for kubota g1900 thanks:laughing:

 

[Grateful11]

I'd like to know why too. They preach and preach safety yet they won't make
manuals downloadable as pdf files. I guess they make good money off of them.
I'd love to have all our manuals as pdf files for the iPad. Mechanic was out
recently and needed a parts diagram, I handed him the iPad and bam there
he was looking at a parts diagram online, he was like this is great but still no
owners manual.

 

[keyman1808]

I'd like to know why too. They preach and preach safety yet they won't make
manuals downloadable as pdf files. I guess they make good money off of them.
I'd love to have all our manuals as pdf files for the iPad. Mechanic was out
recently and needed a parts diagram, I handed him the iPad and bam there
he was looking at a parts diagram online, he was like this is great but still no
owners manual.

I couldn't agree more. I asked the sam ething in a post a couple of weeks ago. For a company that puts enough warning labels and stickers on a tractor they dont offer thier manuals for viewing online. As for the iPad whats nice is you can zoom in on the area your working for a better look. Well for those of us getting older at least

 

[5030]

The simple answer is if you buy new, the owners' manual is included and being a good citizen and honest, you should provide that manual when you sell it (tractor) or trade it in.

Why should a manufacturer provide a manual online. It costs them money. They are in business to make money, not provide free services.

I've never retained an owners' manual in 13 odd Kubota's. The manual always goes with the unit on trade in. Shop manuals are another story. I sell them on Fleabay.

Finally, when I buy a piece of equipment used (and I do), I always demand an owners manual as a contigency of the sale. No manual, no sale.

I just traded in a NH 67 Hayliner from the early 60's that ran very well. The manual went with the bailer and the bailer I bought (a used NH 575) had the manual come with it.

It's how honest and competent farmers do things. I expect it.

I've actually had people ask me to make available instructions on installing the motorcycle accessories I manufacture and market. I tell them to buy the part and the instructions come with it.

I side completely with the manufacturers.

 

[boggen]

i think it is Bull. owners manual and shop manuals and parts should all be online.

i am guessing it is going to take lawsuits of folks being killed. due to owner manual with how to use and saftey doings explained not easily obtained.

parts, not everyone has a trailer. and it costs to haul tractor back and forth. just being able to see the detail and layout of the parts can help a lot.

shop manual, should be an online version, webpage preferred, (easier to search and could be easier menu driven like a website) though PDF is next best thing.

age of internet has done hit. cell phones are mainstream now were having a PDA like use to hit the web is cheap, to look up info.

some tractors you just do not call up the local car hauler / tow truck and come get it. more so when it is broken down in middle of woods. or out in a muddy field. tractors are not cars or trucks that are on the road or driveway / parking lot and can be easily towed some placed within a few miles to get service at some run of the mill auto repair shop.

=====================
you know a manufacture / company is slacking. when the dealers of a given manufacturer are doing extra work, to attempt to out class other dealers with amount of info they have. that the manufacture does not provide by default.

get the old timer out of the seat that does not know how to turn on a computer, and put a younger folk in the seat that knows how to check email and search for things on the internet.

it is the age of information at your finger tips. lack of information can be dangerous in multi ways.

 

[BotaBigot]

The simple answer is if you buy new, the owners' manual is included and being a good citizen and honest, you should provide that manual when you sell it (tractor) or trade it in.

Sometimes they get lost, and if you kept paper manual for everything you have, you'd need dedicated storage...but, if they were online...

Why should a manufacturer provide a manual online. It costs them money. They are in business to make money, not provide free services.

Because it's convenient. There ARE online manuals for many products. They're not "free"...cost is built-in.

Finally, when I buy a piece of equipment used (and I do), I always demand an owners manual as a contigency of the sale. No manual, no sale.

No manuals w/66 BSA I bought, but I now have Owner's/Shop/Parts...thanks eBay. I often read online manuals before I buy new/used...helps with decision/evaluation.

I've actually had people ask me to make available instructions on installing the motorcycle accessories I manufacture and market. I tell them to buy the part and the instructions come with it.

Again, I read instructions before buying...helps me decide if product does what I want/need...

 

[David_Kb7uns]

In this day and age of the internet it is hard to believe that the manual has gone from writer to the presses without being in one electronic form or another.....the excuse of costing more money is null and void. Besides the dealer has most of the parts manuals and some service manuals on the computer now so I know copies in electronic form exist.
I am an amateur radio operator and all radios I have bought in the last year have a quick reference guide and a CD with the entire manual in PDF form, same thing with computers.
Everyday I am getting emails about going paperless to save trees and money. And the last but not least argument is if I went JOHN DEERE GREEN I can look up parts and owners over the internet but I like ORANGE.

David Kb7uns

 

[Grateful11]

The simple answer is if you buy new, the owners' manual is included and being a good citizen and honest, you should provide that manual when you sell it (tractor) or trade it in.

Why should a manufacturer provide a manual online. It costs them money. They are in business to make money, not provide free services.

I've never retained an owners' manual in 13 odd Kubota's. The manual always goes with the unit on trade in. Shop manuals are another story. I sell them on Fleabay.

Finally, when I buy a piece of equipment used (and I do), I always demand an owners manual as a contigency of the sale. No manual, no sale.

I just traded in a NH 67 Hayliner from the early 60's that ran very well. The manual went with the bailer and the bailer I bought (a used NH 575) had the manual come with it.

It's how honest and competent farmers do things. I expect it.

I've actually had people ask me to make available instructions on installing the motorcycle accessories I manufacture and market. I tell them to buy the part and the instructions come with it.

I side completely with the manufacturers.

Wait a minute virtually every manual, parts catalog, etc. is now done on a computer. The file is already there, all they have to do is make it available. Once it's been made on a computer it's only costing them a small amount of space on a server somewhere. I don't expect them to give away service manuals but it would be nice to have access to owners manuals. You can buy a piece of small outdoor power equipment and I believe there's not a manufacturer left that doesn't allow free downloads of owners manuals of chainsaws, string trimmers, etc. That's a $200 to $1500 piece of equipment, a $25K tractor should have a pdf manual made available.

It's nice to know that you side with the manufacturers but just remember if it weren't for us "consumers" manufacturers would disappear.

 

[5030]

Sometimes they get lost, and if you kept paper manual for everything you have, you'd need dedicated storage...but, if they were online...

I have a shelf just for that. Every piece of equipment has a manual that I own.


Because it's convenient. There ARE online manuals for many products. They're not "free"...cost is built-in.

Probably are. Not my stuff.


No manuals w/66 BSA I bought, but I now have Owner's/Shop/Parts...thanks eBay. I often read online manuals before I buy new/used...helps with decision/evaluation.

66 Beezer. You need locktite and safety wire before a manual.


Again, I read instructions before buying...helps me decide if product does what I want/need...

You won't be buying my products anyway. They are Triumph oriented.