Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech factory service manual or haynes manual

I'm assuming there's no "america/speedmaster for dummies" out there, so which is better, the factory service manual triumph sells, or a haynes manual?

For more basic stuff, the Haynes manual. For a complete technical manual, the factory service manual.

Soren

I have both. It sounds like what you're looking for is the Haynes manual. It is more explanatory with far more pictures. It also has lots of basic generic stuff as well. It has all the specs you need including torque info and specifications. It also costs a lot less. I'd buy it first. It probably will be all you need.

Nothing beats a factory book. The after market ones are written by taking a bike apart and puttign it back together.

I've got the factory manual. It's okay with me.

The specs in the factory manual are more accurate. The pictures in the Haynes manual are better. Because of that, it's really best to have both.

To clarify my recommendation, you implied you were looking for "TA/SM for dummies". As a very basic wrencher myself, the Haynes is "better", but I like having both. Any mechanic that already knows how to do stuff is going to say the factory manual is better or comes first. You can probably look at both of them at your local Triumph dealer.

I haven't run into any wrong information in the Haynes pertaining to the work I've done. I have an 05 and the "Issue 4" of the factory manual. Just about everything I've looked up has been exactly the same. The earlier factory manuals have different specs on things like stock jets, and a few other changes that were made in following years.

I agree the Haynes is better if you don't know what you are doing, even better would be both used together. The Haynes for the pix and laymans instructions and the factory to double check specs and procedure.

I agree with Matt, nothing beats the factory manual if you have mechanical know how.

I have both, I concider myself to be a novice-intermed. when it comes to mechcanics. Although I've done the valve check at 12,000 mi. and had to replace some of the shimms. I change my own oil and did the AI removal, debaffle and have adjusted my carbs. So I think with both manuals as a novice you can take on quite a bit of the repairs yourself. These bikes are really nice to work on. So give it a try.
Scott

I have both

where did you get the factory manual?

Dealers can get them for you. If none are close to you, many have online sales. I'm not sure, but you might be able to order one on the Triumph web site.

Isn't the factory one 70 dollars? The factory manual came with the bike so I have both. I 99% use the haynes. Pics, helpfull tips, and schematics. Oh and a "little" cheaper too.

I have seen factory manuals on Ebay from time to time but not often.

What should I do at the 24,000 mile mark (besides what the maintenance guide says). I read somewhere that I should change out the fork oil. I have already removed, cleaned, and lubed the clutch cable and speedo, replaced front and rear pads, plugs, battery, 3rd set of tires, and 3 oil changes (Mobil V-Twin), all connectors and fuses cleaned and lubed, all without any references...Will do more when I get a Haynes....keeps me out of trouble...

i only have the factory one and it was all i needed to do the 904. but if you are not so much a wrench there is never to much info

Frank

I bought the Haynes manual for my 06 America, very good book. I bought a factory book for my wife's Honda Shadow, I'll stick with the Haynes book from now on for all of our bikes, its easier to use.

I'm an auto tech, so I know my way around a wrench. However, I don't know anything about carbs. This is my first bike, and I've never worked on bikes before, so I'm kind of just looking for a guide. I don't plan on doing any major teardown and re-build or anything. No time soon anyway.

None of the Haynes manuals I've seen include the 07 Speedmaster. Is it pretty much the same as previous years or do I need to wait for an updated manual to come out?

nope 07 is the same except for some cosmetic changes.