Which type of tractor manual is most comprehensive?

Bill Knecht · Jan 7, 2022

I apologize in advance for probably asking a question that's been asked many times before. But, I need help, and don't see how to search these posts. I've spent many hours trying to figure out just what kind of service manual is most comprehensive. There seem to be service manuals, repair manuals, shop manuals, plus various combinations of those terms. My head is spinning!

I bought a service repair manual for my 1997 New Holland 6610S. The manual is huge (706 pp), yet it fails to tell me something basic I need to know -- how to remove the steering wheel, which is stuck bigtime (a 3-jaw gear puller won't budge it, so I'm wondering if there's some trick to it that would be revealed in a comprehensive manual).

I have an operator's manual, and a parts manual. I just need THE most comprehensive, most detailed manual available, preferably specific to the 6610S (the Mexican version of the 6610, with a different engine).

The other thing is that online sellers of these manuals vary greatly in price. Some charge as much as $200 for what fetches $36 elsewhere. This is clearly a market trolling for suckers. So, an OEM reference number for the manual would help greatly.

Thanks.

SVcummins · Jan 7, 2022

Oem or a good reprint of the oem manual . New holland manuals leave a lot to be desired for the newer machines . I was working for new holland when they re did the manuals and they way they are laid out .i never could find Anything I wanted after that

Janicholson · Jan 7, 2022

I agree With SV. Original are best, both parts and service. They can be Expensive, finding used original is good. Reprints of original are OK if the process was dome well, We have all seen jokes that were Xeroxed 78 times. IT manuals can sometimes cover things differently, but in some cases not well. IH Blue Ribbon Manuals for specific topics/components/engines are great. Jim

Bill Knecht · Jan 7, 2022

Thanks. It finally hit on me to go to the F/NH website and see what OEM manual(s) they offer. They only offer one repair manual for the 6610S, and their reference number for that is 87032901. They want $238 for it. Meanwhile, I had already bought a PDF version of that exact same manual for $35. Go figure. They call this shop manual a service repair manual, which doesn't settle the question I asked.

But, at least your methodology suggests a way to solve the problem of finding THE most comprehensive manual. In other words, go to the OEM website, find what they offer for manuals. Pick the most expensive one & try to get the reference number. Then, go online and search for

manufacturer name manual reference number

e.g. ford/new holland manual 87032901

This seems to work quite well. Thanks again!

Steve@Advance · Jan 7, 2022

Can't answer your question, but be very careful clicking on the website that says they have 'manuals for everything'.

It launches a nasty ransomware virus!

I got out of it by doing a system reset.

Also be sure you are getting a real manual. Some are crude copies, illustrations are blurred black and white ink globs. Some CD's are that way.

A used grease stained original is sometimes the best bet. Check Ebay.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 7, 2022

2011 I bought a new kaw 4010 mule. The secondary TPS wasn't set up properly at the factory. The young boys at the dealer had little experience with electronic fuel injection.

I talked to the part department and they ordered me a shop manual like their service techs use.

It cost me about $100 and I had to wait a month or more.

I would have never fixed it without a factory service tech's manual.

Go to talk to the dealer. See if he will order you a manual.

Bill(Wis) · Jan 7, 2022

Have you tried the Ford Forum on this website? There has to be someone over there who knows how to remove a steering wheel.

Fritz Maurer · Jan 7, 2022

New Holland will put a factory manual on a flash drive for 50$

used red MN · Jan 7, 2022

The most comprehensive manual may not always cover all steps or provide the details you think it should. If for example you are removing the steering wheel to access a seal in the power steering unit, the manual may just have a copy and pasted instruction set provided to Ford by the steering component manufacturer. So some how the steps of how to remove the steering wheel were overlooked. And sometimes wording like ..remove using the appropriate tools.. get thrown in there. Also if your tractor has no cab or canopy the manual does not always cover added difficulty from items like rust or the last person over torqued the fastener. I have many times on here tried to reply with step by step instructions to help someone. The reply can get lengthy real easily and you quickly find out the difficulty the writer of a technical manual faces. As far as what Steve has mentioned about sites offering manuals to download, the ones that I have experienced that offer ..not so pleasant returns.. are ones that are offering them for free. Indeed beware. Do not know if this really helps you, but I have offered my two cents worth anyway.

4wdtom · Jan 7, 2022

Many times you can tell from looking at the exploded views in parts manuals how things are put together/come apart.

Jim.ME · Jan 7, 2022

This isn't going to be the answer you want to hear. The OEM service (aka technical, shop, repair) manuals are generally the most comprehensive. One has to remember the service manuals are written for the dealer mechanics, not the DIY market. service manuals often do not include some basics like lubricant types fill and check locations, and service intervals, which are in the Operator's/Owner's manual. It is expected the dealer mechanic has access to both, so the info is not duplicated in the service manual. As for not having specific details on something like how to remove a steering wheel (stuck or not) would not be something they would write a procedure for, as it is expected an experienced mechanic would not need instructions to do. How to get a hydraulic tube out from the inside of a frame or backhoe boom is another thing I have seen many think the manuals should provide comprehensive instructions to perform, reality is the mechanic has to figure out.

Get the OEM manuals new, used, reprint, or electronic. Sometimes there may be several manuals in a service set (and they can cost more than $200, I've got a couple two manual sets that cost more than twice that, each). Getting help with some basic things like pulling a steering wheel or fishing a hose out are where forums like this come in handy. One can post their issue and generally can capitalize on the experience and ideas of others.

SkipperII · Jan 7, 2022

As an old Ford wrench, I can tell you that sometimes their steering wheels are nearly impossible to get off, after they have rusted. The best tool to use is a bearing splitter set, Harbor Freight has them for about $50, using an impact wrench to tighten the puller, get it good and tight then smack the end of the puller screw with a brass hammer, sometimes they will break lose. If not you will need to cut the hub with a hacksaw, and use a cold chisel to split the hub, then replace the steering wheel, Just had to do it to a 5000 last spring.

Copperhead don't play · Jan 7, 2022

Steve you are so correct.
Just last week not only did I get a virus, but also a fraudulent charge on my credit card from a so called seller of tractor manuals.
He never even shipped a manual.

JD Dave · Jan 7, 2022

Your best sources are the OEM tech manual and parts manual. You get the theory of operation and repair process from the repair manual and then you look at the exploded view in the parts images and you can figure out how everything goes together. Most aftermarket/follow-up manuals are a joke and were written by high school dropouts who, when writing, couldn't complete a sentence. Sometimes that junk is downright misleading!

SVcummins · Jan 7, 2022

I wouldnt have a manual on cd if it was free with a paper manual you can look through and actually find what you want.instead of mindlessly trying to look through the index on a cd and still not find it .

Bob Harvey · Jan 7, 2022

Depending where and who you are, my faves are in English. ;^)

Traditional Farmer · Jan 7, 2022

On about every tractor and piece of equipment I own I go on ebay and find original manuals,a little pricey sometimes but worth it in my opinion.

redforlife · Jan 7, 2022

Owners manuel's/operators manuel's are generally pretty basic info.
Repair manuel's/shop manuel's you'll find more extensive info. But the bad part is, those manuel's don't really spell out difficulties you may run into on getting things apart. Probly not going to find that info anywhere in books.
Past posts on this site are stored in archives. You can click on archives, and do a search. You'll probably have to be very specific.
You can post a question of your own on the appropriate forum on this site. Be specific on your problem.
I have also found instructional videos on you tube, and have had some luck with that.

Ultradog MN · Jan 8, 2022

I don't have an answer about the best manual.
And I am not very familiar with your tractor.
If the steering wheel mount is similar to the older Fords I made this simple doohicky to pull the steering wheels. It pulls from under the plastic hub and does not break the plastic.

If you have already wrecked the plastic then I would use heat or take a slitting wheel on a grinder and split the hub lengthwise.
When working on machinery you do need to be resourceful as not everything is in the manual.

Leroy · Jan 8, 2022

What is a flash drive?

showcrop · Jan 8, 2022

(quoted from post at 11:04:42 01/08/22) What is a flash drive?

A flash drive is the same thing as a thumb drive.

Bill Knecht · Jan 19, 2022

Update: Yesterday I finally managed to get the steering wheel off using the Ultradog method. Chalk up one for the Good Guys!

I originally tried making a sleeve out of a 2 PVC coupling, because these were cheap in the hardware store, and an 8-long x2 ID steel pipe nipple was $13 with tax (!) Readers be advised that this didn't work. The PVC is simply too plastic, and it bent, and finally broke. I next found some 2 steel pipe on our property, and fashioned a sleeve the way Ultradog intended. An angle grinder w cutting blade is the way to go in making that.

I had to crank the heck out of the 3-jaw gear puller, using a cheater bar on my ratchet. But, the steering wheel finally broke loose (suddenly, with a loud BANG!). The plastic bottom of the steering wheel is now severely deformed from the massive pressure applied. It could, however, be trimmed, and put back on. Or, as I'm doing, an aftermarket wheel can be found for a 6610S on ebay cheapest, or in other places, with prices ranging from $34-60.

Next up is trying to remove what's left of the old, rusty muffler, to be able to remove the tin over the engine, to be able to get at the instrument-panel tin, to remove that & get at the chewed-up wiring. It's been cold, so I'll have to wait till it warms a bit.

Bill Knecht · Jan 19, 2022

See my Reply to Ultradog. I finally got the steering wheel off, after much hardship !

Which type of tractor manual is most comprehensive?

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