The cost of developing the owners manual is part of the cost of developing a new model of any piece of equipment. Selling the owners manual as an after-market part is just a way to make money. The people who wrote the manual have already been paid, and the corporation has built the development cost into the price of the machine. There is no reason not to make these available. The workshop manual, on the other hand, is not included with the equipment, so it does make sense that they sell these. However, IMHO, the Kubota WSM is overpriced. In the modern world it would make sense to be able to buy it for download at a reduced cost from the hard copy version. My two cents.
Why are manuals not available for free download?
- Thread starter Sniggle
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rScotty
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This has turned out to be a much more interesting thread than I would have suspected when we got started.
I agree with what you are saying about developing a new model or a new manual, but to my surprise I come to a completely different conclusion.
Basically it is this: I think it is normal and simply good business for Kubota to be investing money to make a new model tractor and then expecting to sell enough of them to make a profit. That doesn't bother me in the least. And I don't have any problem with them doing exactly the same thing with 3pt accessories, extra lights or hydrualic outlets, oil, or with manuals.
As for the portions of those manuals that relate to safety instead of technical specs, I expect that any manufacturer would be wise to separate that saftety part out and make it available as a free download.
Enjoy, rScotty
My Hoe
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What's a down payment if we can't pay cash for it we don't buy it. The $25K
one is one of the smaller ones.
Here's one our others after a little detailing, it deserved it, we know how to
maintain and I would prefer to have whatever is available at my disposal and
if that means a pdf on the iPad so be it. We have all the printed manuals on 6
tractors but I'd take other options any day. Mechanic was out the other week
and needed to look a part on CaseIH so I pull out the iPad and bam he's looking
and zooming in on all the parts he needs to check out. Want to see our new
Grain Drill?
This one is 20 years old, original paint and all.
What an amazing "survivor"! Great stewardship on your part, Grateful11!
My Hoe
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
as the retailer of a vast majority of the paper manuals, its hardly a major profit center. Why they don't put them online is a mystery to me. I've always had the impression that Kubota's web dept is understaffed, I'd guess they simply don't have the time / resources to pull it off right now.
As for the price. Kubota WSM's are dirt cheap compared to the going price for most shop manuals. There are some from CNH that are over $1500, even the small stuff is 300-400.
As for the price. Kubota WSM's are dirt cheap compared to the going price for most shop manuals. There are some from CNH that are over $1500, even the small stuff is 300-400.
rScotty
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Wow! That is expensive! Are the CNH really worth all that much more than a traditional US workshop manual? It's possible; I realize that I've never looked through a CNH workshop manual or set.
I've still got a modest group of workship manuals from some years ago when I had a repair shop, and still enjoy reading through them. They vary widely from one manufacturer to another. One of the best were the old JD workshop manuals which were divided into different volumes for every major system on the tractor. Each volume started with a basic technical explanation of what the system was designed to accomplish and why it was designed to do that. And finished with their FOS series which looked at common failures and why that particular part went bad.
That's heady stuff for us workshop manual guys.
rScotty
I don't know if the CNH manuals are worth $1500 but considering what shop rates are now I find them worth their weight. Our CNH manuals for one tractor must weigh around 50 lbs all combined. They are quite detailed. Kubota's on the other hand are really quite pathetic but for the price are good value and every owner should have a set. I try to keep a service/parts manual for every machine I own.
BXRICK
Silver Member
With Kubota, I think (he says like he's some sort of expert...) it's more of a lack of a web presence in general, than a specific desire to make money of manuals.
Also, Kubota seems in general to like to keep stuff close to the vest - the idea of just "putting stuff out there" isn't the way they do business. I know you get an owner's manual with the tractor, so it's not like they are secret.
I dunno.
Also, Kubota seems in general to like to keep stuff close to the vest - the idea of just "putting stuff out there" isn't the way they do business. I know you get an owner's manual with the tractor, so it's not like they are secret.
I dunno.
rScotty
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I don't know if the CNH manuals are worth $1500 but considering what shop rates are now I find them worth their weight. Our CNH manuals for one tractor must weigh around 50 lbs all combined. They are quite detailed. Kubota's on the other hand are really quite pathetic but for the price are good value and every owner should have a set. I try to keep a service/parts manual for every machine I own.
Ahh...I guy after my own heart; wonder if we are related or maybe had the same first grade teacher?
Like you, I don't think I'm out of line wanting to have every bit of printed information on any/every machine that I own. Though I will allow that having workshop manuals for machines that I don't own and have no plans to own might be signs of something or other. If so, it is hopefully something good.
Mark Twain said, ""A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. "
Enjoy, rScotty.
Looking fondly at a nicely bound Zetor Workshop manual. Those must be real nice tractors. Not that I've ever owned one...
vrman
Silver Member
In this day and age, all of them should be available online. The user manual should be freely available. That is what is used for reference for safety and maintenance.
Other manuals, such as parts/shop, should be purchased. These are technical in detail and require some mechanical knowledge to be able to use them.
i don't know if Kubota will ever catch up. I remember a while back that they made Messick's take down their online parts manual for Kubota. You have to call and talk to them now if you want to look something up.
Other manuals, such as parts/shop, should be purchased. These are technical in detail and require some mechanical knowledge to be able to use them.
i don't know if Kubota will ever catch up. I remember a while back that they made Messick's take down their online parts manual for Kubota. You have to call and talk to them now if you want to look something up.
Sniggle, I would like a PDF of the b7800 operators manual. I have the parts manual pdf. alanduq@netzero.netIt 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
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