Outboard manuals on CD

[pop528]

I have been struggling with an older outboard I want to restore to operating condition and from what I have read in these forums there are many others like myself who are starving for technical information on simular projects.
In my search I found I could buy a set of useable manuals on CD for a fraction of the cost of just one printed manual. The set covering my outboard consists of 6 manuals containing roughly 2000 pages of information, photos, and exploded views of the different componants we might need to rebuild. Models covered go from the 1950's up to 2000 in the set I have. CD are availabe for all major brands.
The down side is you must locate the information you need and then print it out unless you have a computer under your shade tree or a laptop. Both are very simple to do and with the low cost at least to me it is worth the time.
I'm trying to not break any forum rules nor am I selling the CD's. If anyone is interested in looking at this option for help please leave me a private message and I will provide you with the information you will need to look into this option. I know this provider offers a good product, at a good price because I am using it.
Thanks for looking,
pop528

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

If they are OEM manuals, yes they are worth the $$, if not, they still serve a purpose, but watch for mistakes.

 

[paulcoy]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I am searching for a maintenance manual for my 1990 Force 50HP outboard with little success. So far I've found some on Iboats but they stop at the year 1989. Can you clue me in on a good place to find a decent repair manual for this engine?

 

[pop528]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

Thanks for the headsup. I have been cross checking the information as much as possible and it looks good. I restored one of these outboards years ago with great results so I'm not working completely blind but I need the specs and like yu have said I do need them to be right.
Thanks again,
pop528

 

[pop528]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I am searching for a maintenance manual for my 1990 Force 50HP outboard with little success. So far I've found some on Iboats but they stop at the year 1989. Can you clue me in on a good place to find a decent repair manual for this engine?

I will look to see if you motor is covered and get back to you asap

 

[pop528]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I am searching for a maintenance manual for my 1990 Force 50HP outboard with little success. So far I've found some on Iboats but they stop at the year 1989. Can you clue me in on a good place to find a decent repair manual for this engine?

I think I have got you covered buddy!!!! I'm trying not to break any forum rules. If you will email me at I will give you the information I found. This is on CD and you can check to make sure your model is covered before you order.
pop528

 

[Don S]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I would suggest you use the PM (Private Message) for posting email addresses, not the forums.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

Not so fast,not so fast.
Most of these CDs are versions of Seloc that have been scanned and put on a disc.
I made the mistake of buying one for one of my Mercs only to find out that I now have the Seloc book and the Seloc disk.
Nothing wrong with Seloc,but a factory manual it is not!

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I had the same issues with a vendor from Georgia a while ago.He was advertising factory shop manuals but when pressed on the issue he admitted that some were,some were not.When asked about a specific manual they did not want to discuss it any longer.I would be wary when dealing with anyone offering "factory shop manuals" in any form for money.Ron G

 

[pop528]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I had the same issues with a vendor from Georgia a while ago.He was advertising factory shop manuals but when pressed on the issue he admitted that some were,some were not.When asked about a specific manual they did not want to discuss it any longer.I would be wary when dealing with anyone offering "factory shop manuals" in any form for money.Ron G

I have edited my post where I used "shop manual". A poor choice of words on my part. I repair machinery for a living and use what we call shop manuals daily. I do not sell CD's nor are what I am using sold as "factory shop manuals". I do know I can repair or even rebuild an outboard using what I have. I am sorry for any misunderstandings I might have caused.
pop528

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I've never purchased a CD manual, but every person that i have ever talked to or corresponded with, has said that what they received was basically junk.

You can buy real OEM manuals on EBay for 10 bucks or so, or you can buy one at sites such as iboats for a bit more. In either case, you have the real deal, not some bootleg version of a Seloc manual, or someone's attempt to write their own.

Spend the money for a real manual. If you work on your own motor, its the best investment you'll ever make in that outboard.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

Looks like iboats only has SELOC for Yamaha. Are you all saying not to get the Seloc (at $40) v. the OEM at $80 from Yamaha?

I won't do any deep engine work but i like to be able to trouble shoot and do minor "outside the block" repairs and the owners manual has virtually no information.

 

[ttownguy]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I agree with an earlier poster. Be weary of cheap manuals you can get online. I bought one than boasted "thousands of pages" but ended up with the something closer to a basic owner's manual for my specific make/model, AND 200 OTHER MODELS that I didn't need...which accounts for the "thousands of pages" they were advertising. Also, the manual is scanned (not keyword searchable). Makes you wonder if they're pirated copies or not and WHO IT IS YOU'RE PROVIDING INCOME TO.

 

[pop528]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I had the same issues with a vendor from Georgia a while ago.He was advertising factory shop manuals but when pressed on the issue he admitted that some were,some were not.When asked about a specific manual they did not want to discuss it any longer.I would be wary when dealing with anyone offering "factory shop manuals" in any form for money.Ron G

Looks like all this old GEORGIA boy has done is stir up a mess. I am not selling anything nor am I attacking written manuals, shop or other wise. I have a couple and have used them with good results.
I have been working on my own outboards for about 30 yrs and I have had several. Everything from little single cylinder's to a monster black max.
I know there are scams out there covering just about any and everything.
I also know most people are simply trying to get something running so that they can enjoy being on the water without breaking the bank.
pop528

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Outboard manuals on CD

I'll reserve comment on the Seloc Yamaha manuals, because I haven't seen one. What I will say, is that I have seen them for OMC outboards and am not impressed. I have even paid money for a couple of them, out of sheer ignorance as to how useless they tend to be.

The basic problem with Seloc manuals, and others that are similar, is that they try to cover too many engines, in a single book. The end result is that you get information that is so brief/incomplete, that they are of next to no value. I have used them on occassion, just to look up basic specs or look at a wiring diagram, but for anything else, I don't waste my time with them.

I guess my answer to you, is yes, I would spend the $80 for the real deal, before I spent $40 for something that might be of minimal value. This is an investment in quality maintenance on your motor and its an investment in your time. Simply put, you will spend less time trying to figure out repair procedures and you will make fewer mistakes, because you can't get a full understanding of a particular issue from an inadequate manual.