Quote:
Originally Posted by Distantdrummer
I never knew about the cessation of the Service Manuals.
What was Airstream Inc. explanation or reason given for discontinuing them?
And Andy did dealers recieve a different (better) manual each year than the ones the consumers got? If so was this the case from the beginning (1972) thru 1984?
|
Airstream has backed off of many things in the last 25 years or so.
Their in house inventory is a fraction of what it was 30 years ago.
Many parts have been discontinued instead of keeping them on hand for way too many years.
Warehousing, even in Jackson Center, is expensive.
Dealers never received any manuals. Dealers back then, were invited to one of three "Airstream service schools, "two in Ohio and one in California, held at different dates. If the dealers wanted a manual, they had to purchase them.
All the service manuals, Airstream ever had, are the same for the consumer, be it a dealer or an owner. One in the same. Accordingly, since there is only one per year, at least the years that they were available, I guess you have to rate, "as the best."
Please be advised that a "printing company" wrote the manuals, at Airstream's guidance, some of which have errors, especially in the early 70's manuals.
Most of the errors, are obvious to a person that's mechanically inclined.
Probably, the worst error was showing and stating that the "proper way" to drill out a rivet, "was at an angle". Drilling them out with the drill bit going straight into the rivet, was listed as incorrect.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
The service manuals are a tremendous tool, for the do-it-yourselfer, without question.
Andy