Clymer vs Haynes which is the prefered?

[Deivets Cetdar]

Or should I get both?
What about Shop manuals are they just for expert Mech's? I am mechnically defecient and need step by step with good pictures.
Thanks
Deivets Cetdar
:?

[Nessism]

Factory manual. First Timer, good man that he is , posted a copy on-line for download.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=113917

[rapidray]

I am an ex dealer mechanic & I will only buy factory manuals. The others are ok but are NOT as good as the factory manuals. Ray.

[SPARKSS]

The factory manuals are almost always better by far and I'd recommend them. Having said that, any good info is better than no info. Don't get too hung up on step-by-step and pictures as main requirements - GOOD manuals will have sections describing how systems work and the specific details, measurements and values required and THIS info will help you learn how and why you diagnose and repair. Of course, good schematics and blow-out pics are a big help to even seasoned mechanics.

Personally of the 2 aftermarket manuals you mentioned I can say that the Clymers I have had for bikes were "ok" and good when I filled them with my own notes (and occasional corrections). The Haynes manuals I've ended up with for automobiles have been fairly dismal......lots of useless info.......virtually no theory sections - better than nothing at all though.

Clymers manual for my GS1000 is about 5/8" thick......the factory manual for a GS550 I had was about 1-1/4" thick.....

[bwringer]

Get all three -- the Haynes, Clymer, and factory. And get a microfiche, too, or print off the images and parts lists from one of the microfiche sites.

All contain wild random inaccuracies (the factory manual less than the others, but still...). Having the other two helps you understand when one is wrong.

You can also benefit from seeing the same procedure explained in different ways with different pictures -- you'll get a much better idea what is happening simply by having more than one perspective.

The factory manual will drive you batty with sentences like "use special tool #6565643-09097-Q to gently nudge special tool #98776672-49A toward special tool #876555568-8ZXVR..." With the other manuals, there's usually a workaround or an alternative tool or procedure described.

And, of course, some procedures and specs are obsolete or not addressed in the manuals. For example, this site contains the excellent Stator Papers and the Carb Cleanup Series, and none of the manuals says anything useful about electrical diagnosis, and very little about properly cleaning and rebuilding carbs.

In other words, gather all the information you can from all possible sources and ask the forum when in doubt.