7 replies to this topic

[ac427]

Are genuine workshop manuals after 1976 available for download or purchase? 

[Chris1275gt]

I’ve a 9th edition workshop manual which goes up to 75 but there is nothing in it that isn’t already covered in the equivalent Haynes manual which was a surprise as I expected a lot more in it, so I’d go for a Haynes that covers the year of your car.

[ac427]

I’ve a 9th edition workshop manual which goes up to 75 but there is nothing in it that isn’t already covered in the equivalent Haynes manual which was a surprise as I expected a lot more in it, so I’d go for a Haynes that covers the year of your car.

 

That is strange. Like you, I thought there would be much more technical information than a Haynes manual contained with it.

[Spider]

Rover did Factory Manuals at least up to 1996 and loads of Technical Bulletins up to at least 2005 for the Mini. I find them for the most part, highly detailed, though to trawl through it all does take some time to be sure you have all the applicable information. They also include the change points for some parts, items and procedures, eg, the gearbox section in the early manuals covers the various change points for parts in the gearboxes as well as many of the clearances to be checked. There's also a full page on valve seat machining dimensions which I find handy from time to time as well as correct procedures for removing and refitting the press fit pins in Con Rods.

 

Keep in mind though, the Factory Manuals are written for professional mechanics and usually those who have had factory training. They don't always lend themselves well to the amateur guy at home as they assume you know all the basics and things you would have learned at collage.

 

I find the Haynes and similar manuals are more written around the guy at home but also miss some important things too, eg, I just had a glance through one now and in regards to fitting the cylinder head, it pretty much says to fit the nuts and torque them up in sequence. It completely misses a very important point that the threads need to be oiled, which is in the Factory Manuals. Some of the Haynes manuals also miss chapters on gearbox overhauls stating it's a job for a specialist. I do believe the guy at home can well do them, however, probably the first few times through them, some guidance would be helpful.

So, in regards to Manuals, for the guy at home, I'd suggest obtaining both, then probably read through the Haynes on a particular procedure, then the factory one to pick up all the bits missed in the Haynes.

[DeadSquare]

My theory is that somebody might have read the workshop manuals aloud, and when Haynes overheard what they had read out, wrote down what they remembered.

 

Haynes then had to provide their own illustrations,

[JDMRoverMini]

I have the rover mini repair manual for 76-89 and 92-96. As well as a workshop manual as of ‘71 and ‘96.

[MikeRotherham]

The 92-96 Rover manual is pretty easy to follow and it gives you torque settings on the bit you are removing/replacing without having to look elsewhere in another section.

 

There is also a later Rover manual for the MPI models.

[ac427]

Rover did Factory Manuals at least up to 1996 and loads of Technical Bulletins up to at least 2005 for the Mini. I find them for the most part, highly detailed, though to trawl through it all does take some time to be sure you have all the applicable information. They also include the change points for some parts, items and procedures, eg, the gearbox section in the early manuals covers the various change points for parts in the gearboxes as well as many of the clearances to be checked. There's also a full page on valve seat machining dimensions which I find handy from time to time as well as correct procedures for removing and refitting the press fit pins in Con Rods.

Keep in mind though, the Factory Manuals are written for professional mechanics and usually those who have had factory training. They don't always lend themselves well to the amateur guy at home as they assume you know all the basics and things you would have learned at collage.

I find the Haynes and similar manuals are more written around the guy at home but also miss some important things too, eg, I just had a glance through one now and in regards to fitting the cylinder head, it pretty much says to fit the nuts and torque them up in sequence. It completely misses a very important point that the threads need to be oiled, which is in the Factory Manuals. Some of the Haynes manuals also miss chapters on gearbox overhauls stating it's a job for a specialist. I do believe the guy at home can well do them, however, probably the first few times through them, some guidance would be helpful.

So, in regards to Manuals, for the guy at home, I'd suggest obtaining both, then probably read through the Haynes on a particular procedure, then the factory one to pick up all the bits missed in the Haynes.

Why Haynes couldn't include the spanner sizes needed, I'll never know.

Thanks Spider. Are the technical bulletins available anywhere?

Edited by ac427, 01 May 2023 - 04:41 PM.