Tractor manuals: Hardcopy or Download or CD

oregunGuy · Feb 4, 2019

I'm going to buy a service manual for my Massey Ferguson 1742 from AGCO (www:agcopubs:com).

I'm leaning toward download and then I can print pages if needed.

Has anyone had experience buying tractor manuals? And what method did you pick? What were the drawbacks?

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2017 Massey Ferguson 1742 with DL125 loader and CB75 backhoe
2006 Kubota B2630 with LA402 loader and BH75 backhoe

ruffdog · Feb 4, 2019

Hardcopy....I like getting the pages dirty and leaving notes.

wwdiii · Feb 4, 2019

I paid a 100 bucks for a manual for my new Mahindra . I would have preferred a download to a hard copy but hard copy was what I could get.

boomer1025 · Feb 4, 2019

I got the CD version

oregunGuy · Feb 4, 2019

Well that is 1 vote each for the 3 options.

For my Massey Ferguson:
Service manual: $95-$122
Engine manual: $22-$29
Parts manual: $132-$170
CD is the cheapest, Hard-copy is the most expensive.

I'm wondering if the security that is put on CD or download will be a pain. I don't want to spend $300 for something I have to log into each time.

Quebecguy · Feb 5, 2019

I bought both a CD and a hard copy shop manual for my John Deere. I looked through the CD once but since then it has been 100% paper version for me. I find it much easier to flip through the pages to find what I'm looking for with the paper one. I use the on-line parts manual.

WranglerX · Feb 5, 2019

For my MF GC 1715 the two manuals (for engine and chassis) where like $25 each... BUT binder to put them in was $75, what's up with that.... See if there is break down of individual sections ... This is where CD may save you money....Or just download and print the needed pages just when you need them....

Dale

ericm979 · Feb 5, 2019

I prefer hard copy shop manuals. They don't break and don't need me to have a computer in the garage. But more and more they're only digital. The worst are VW shop manuals- they're digital using a funky proprietary system with node locked licenses, so when you change computers you have to beg the company for another license.

tomplum · Feb 5, 2019

By far anything digital is best. Searching for a keyword or phrase gets you there quick and easy. Enlarge a pic or print out instructions or a parts diagram to help with an assembly. Paper you may miss a reference or wonder just exactly what section something is in. Remember that the translation of some of these manuals is a bit askew. The manuals that I use the mostly IE Deere and my LS once it is on the laptop there are no other permissions or hoops to jump through. I did buy a parts manual, but really if you have IPLs online it isn't necessary.

Jstpssng · Feb 5, 2019

I bought and prefer a hard copy. I take the pages out that I need, copy them with my printer/scanner, then put the original back in the book.
I will say that the paper quality of my new manual is nowhere near that of my last tractor, and looks like somebody just ran it through a copy machine, punched holes and sold it to me.

Oaktree · Feb 5, 2019

tomplum said:
By far anything digital is best. Searching for a keyword or phrase gets you there quick and easy. Enlarge a pic or print out instructions or a parts diagram to help with an assembly. Paper you may miss a reference or wonder just exactly what section something is in. Remember that the translation of some of these manuals is a bit askew.

Sometimes digital manuals are searchable, othertimes not. I've found PDF files to generally be a PITA to use, especially if you're just browsing to find what you want or if you need to flip back and forth between pages.
Not always convenient to keep running back & forth to a computer while you're working on something, and getting the keyboard all greasy.

Digital is better than nothing, but give me print any day.

SoDark · Feb 5, 2019

I was fortunate enough to find the WSM for my Kubota B2650 on manualslib.com, so I downloaded the PDF and then printed it out at work on a good printer and bought a nice binder to put it in along with the owner manual and sales invoices, receipts, documentation, etc. But it's nice having the PDF and/or manualslib app on phone and tablet which is my go-to.

bitternut · Feb 8, 2019

I'm a big fan of printed manuals. I have all the manuals for my JD tractor and JD dozer. My tractor is only 19 years old but my dozer is 42 years old. I have doubts that any of your digital stuff will be readily available to you with the way devices are changing. You might have a disc copy but try finding some thing you can stick it in to access it in twent years. Maybe it will be on vhs or maybe beta max right. I have the books put out by John Deere and they are easy to find what you need. They are expensive but priceless when you have a problem. If you have an off brand machine you may not find any manuals down the road. Best get them when you can.

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SoDark · Feb 8, 2019

It only takes one person to scan it to a digital file and upload it to the internet, at which point it's basically permanent. The days of floppy disks and Zip drives are long dead. Even if you do end up getting a paper copy, which I agree is very useful, you could just take it down to whatever Kinkos is now called and probably have them scan it to a PDF for a couple bucks and have both. Conversely, having them print out a 400 page digital file, costs about as much as it does to buy the paper copy.

Dave M7040 · Feb 9, 2019

SoDark said:
I was fortunate enough to find the WSM for my Kubota B2650 on manualslib.com, so I downloaded the PDF and then printed it out at work on a good printer and bought a nice binder to put it in along with the owner manual and sales invoices, receipts, documentation, etc. But it's nice having the PDF and/or manualslib app on phone and tablet which is my go-to.

Is your tractor a 2650 HSD?

Dave M7040

SoDark · Feb 9, 2019

B2650 HST as far as I know. HST vs HSD has always confused me, unsure of the difference to be honest.

Dave M7040 · Feb 9, 2019

You probably did not get the correct manual from manulib.
The cover should look like this.

Send me a private message with your email address

Dave M7040

Jchonline · Feb 9, 2019

The WSM on the M62 is over 650 pages. Digital without a doubt. I like the search capabilities, right from the iPad. I can always print sections if I am working on a particular job. I can also have a copy printed if I want. They are backed up in 3 places so if the garage burns down I still have the documents.

HillStreet · Feb 9, 2019

I should get the manuals for my B2650 as I like to service it. Big maintenance is something I might try if I had the manuals so it would pay off. Still a lot of money. I bought the CD for parts and service on my airplane? cost me $22.

HillStreet · Feb 9, 2019

About the digital versions. My laptop is old and I don’t want to buy new because everything I do is on the iPad now. Is there any way to get the digital manuals to run on an iPad? I have a thumb drive for rhe iPad.