Shop Manual?

[mrquadriga]

Forgive my ignorance for this question, many times over in the forum, posters refer to the "shop manual". Is this the same as the Haynes and Clymer manuals and if not, where does one find a Suzuki "shop manual"? Thanks for the help, I just want to do it right the first time so I don't have too many posts on here. -Pete-

'80 GS1100L

[earlfor]

Re: Shop Manual?

The "shop manual" is the factory book for that model by Suzuki for their dealers/mechanics. I guess we could call Haynes and Clymer... service books. :-) The best is the factory shop manual. They can be found on ebay fairly often for a decent price. Many of them can still be ordered from Suzuki, but expect to pay $75 + if you go this route. One big difference between the Clymer/Haynes and the Suzuki shop manual is that Clymer and Haynes while not nearly as thorough with specifications etc, do more or less walk you through the repair. The Factory manual assumes you are a trained tech and instruction is minimal. You can order Clymer and Haynes for your bike model online through bookdealers such as Barnes and Noble or through places like Dennis Kirk or cyclerecycle. They're about $20, so its not worth a whole lot of effort shopping ebay and getting into a bidding war. :-)

We hope you will be posting some questions here. If no one asked any, we couldnt have a tech section. eh eh

Earl

Forgive my ignorance for this question, many times over in the forum, posters refer to the "shop manual". Is this the same as the Haynes and Clymer manuals and if not, where does one find a Suzuki "shop manual"? Thanks for the help, I just want to do it right the first time so I don't have too many posts on here. -Pete-

'80 GS1100L

[mrquadriga]

Thank you Earl, you are a person of great integrity for answering my posts without ridiculing my silly questions. I beleive you have weighed in on all of the queries I've posted so far and as you can tell, I'm new to the motorcycle game and have never taken anything like this apart before. I'm willing to try though, and if things don't work out there are shops just down the road for me to haul it in baskets to. :? Thanks again and if you're ever in Northern Minnesota, look me up, I owe you at least lunch for all your help.

[dgeorge]

If you are looking for a factory service manual try herehttp://www.repairmanual.com/index.html they have fair prices and most of the factory shop manual's

[Anonymous]

I got mine on eBay. The factory manual is the one to get IMHO, but the Clymer is decent also. Either one gives the information you need, but I think the photography is clearer in the factory manual and the fact that it lies flat when you use it, although it sounds minor, is a convienience.

Don't get brake fluid on the pages, though, it makes them stick together.

[Joe Nardy]

Thank you Earl, you are a person of great integrity for answering my posts without ridiculing my silly questions. I beleive you have weighed in on all of the queries I've posted so far and as you can tell, I'm new to the motorcycle game and have never taken anything like this apart before. I'm willing to try though, and if things don't work out there are shops just down the road for me to haul it in baskets to. :? Thanks again and if you're ever in Northern Minnesota, look me up, I owe you at least lunch for all your help.

Yeah, Earl would NEVER ridicule anyone!

[earlfor]

Only the pale,frail, weak, defenseless, short people, Little Bird men and Scooty.

Earl :-)

Yeah, Earl would NEVER ridicule anyone!

[Redman]

Like Earl says, the Suzuki manaul is more specific to your model (be sure to get one for specifiaclly your model and year). It will have pictures more specific to your model/year, but often referes to specific tools or test equipment.
A Clymers or Hayes book (I recommend Clymer) may be for a larger range of models and years, so its not as specific to your model/year, but has more diagnostic tests with more general tools/testers that you are more likley to have. The assembly and dissassembly directions are much better than the Suzuki manaul.
My recomendation is to have a Clymers and the Suzuki manaul. Can find both on ebay. May take a few months to find the Suzuki manaul, and likey to have competing bidders, probably sell for 30-40 bucks. Can find the Clymers on Ebay more readily but can also get one from online book store right away for not much more.