Manual upgrades over the years

[Charlie M]

Didn't want to complicate the discussion below about what manuals to buy but wanted to comment on how the manuals got better as the equipment evolved. I have both tractor and implement manuals from stuff in the 1930's like my F14 and manuals when the letter series tractors came out and when they improved the machines at least IH greatly improved the manuals in my opinion. The improved manuals had a better lay out, better diagrams and just easier to use. I would assume same applies to other manufacturers. Its surprising how many implements from the old days still have manuals available.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Yeah, we've gone from, "Stand on the ground behind your tractor and feather the hand clutch to inch your tractor backwards to hook up implements," to, "Do not eat the steering wheel."

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Yeah I think 50s and 60s were a great time for manuals only needed info and pictures became a more common thing instead of artist drawings. The b John Deere manual got updated significantly for example both as the model went along and later the operators manual from the 1930s was about 14 pages and said head bolts should be tightened up evenly. That’s what they had for a manual. No service manual nothing fancy.

Too be fair as well in regards to barnyards comment the 8270r the other day I was attempting to adjust the steering wheel height by pulling out last day of corn spraying only had one field to go with all the rain we had a narrow window. The 8000s can sometimes be sticky as anyone who has ever tried to adjust one will attest to. I gave a good stiff pull on it and steering shaft wheel and 2 foot of square plastic covered tube was laying in my lap dangling by a harness so I’d say the do not eat steering wheel is more necessary than it once was...there was about 15 min of panic till 2 of us crammed in the cab got it to slide back together