Confused about which Service Manual

[RobsTV]

Have a '83 175hp Evinrude.

From my prior '75 135hp, I already have a Seloc '73 to '91 60-235hp.
It is not at all good to use with either motor.

But, I also have the '75 factory service manual for the 135, and a Clymer manual for 1965-1981 40-140hp (published in 1981) that is nearly "identical" to the factory '75 service manual. It's almost as though Clymer copied the factory manual page by page, including photo's and diagrams. The Clymer is actually easier to use than Factory manual due to some extra photos and tips in all the sections.

On ebay I see:
1. factory manual that covers 1981 150/175/200/235 for around $50
2. factory manual that covers 1983 2hp thru V6 models for around $75
or
New Clymer manual the covers 1973-1990 48hp to 235hp for around $25

If I did not have the old excellent Clymer I would not have included it, but need to know if Clymer has changed over the years, and a new Clymer manual is nothing like the old one I have, and is not a good substitute. The old motor's Clymer is about 270 pages, while the new motor's Clymer is almost 600 pages. That must be "better", right?

As to Factory manuals, is it better to get one covering your series, like the 1981 above (even though I have an '83, and it looks like everything should be the same), or is it better to get the exact year that covers all models made that year?

Thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Confused about which Service Manual

it's best to get the year/engine specific, manual. get the number at outboardbooks.com clymer is to keep the oil from dripping on the driveway when changing lower unit oil.

 

[RobsTV]

Re: Confused about which Service Manual

Looking at the part number from outboardbooks, it seems the service manual they sell is the one listed on ebay above that covers 2hp-V6 models in '93. (393765)

That wide motor range of exact 1983 year (2hp-V6) would be better than tight range of close year (1981 150/175/200/235) ?

Why use Clymer as a paper towel? As stated, the Clymer I have is nearly identical to the Factory service manual, at 1/3rd the price, plus the newer Clymer has twice the page count as old Clymer, even though it is covering roughly the same number of years? As I asked in prior post, have they changed? The factory service manual I have for the 135hp is only for the three versions of 135hp in 1973. No other years. No other HP's. Perhaps that is where the confusion is from. Perhaps the old factory service manual was "as bad as" the Clymer, and now the factory is better, which makes it appear as though the Clymer is worse???

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Confused about which Service Manual

they are known for miss print, and wrong info. seloc is better than clymer. the seloc you have will will cover your motor, link and sinc may not be exact. but it will get you thru.