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Savat
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 55
Location: the village
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 Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: Haynes vs. Bentley -which is best |
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We are new owners of a 1990 Vanagon and want to invest in a manual. We just want to know how to do simple projects. No major engine overhauls or such. Not sure which manual would be the best. Which would you suggest?
thank you The Samba forum is the best! |
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flyingCoyote
Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2006
Posts: 514
Location: Burp Hollow, OR
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:29 am Post subject: Re: Haynes vs. Bentley -which is best |
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| Savat wrote: |
We are new owners of a 1990 Vanagon and want to invest in a manual. We just want to know how to do simple projects. No major engine overhauls or such. Not sure which manual would be the best. Which would you suggest?
thank you The Samba forum is the best! |
The sheer volume of data in the Bentley can seem intimidating, but the lack of detail in the Haynes manual will make your VW seem intimidating. I bought both when I got my Vanagon, but it's almost always the Bentley that has the answer.
_________________
1985 Vanagon GL / homebrew camper (daily driver)
1974 Super Beetle (Wife's daily driver) |
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kevinbassplayer
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2006
Posts: 1041
Location: Nor-Cal
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| I own both also and find that they work well together. So my vote is that you should have both. If you can only get one right now however I would get the Bentley first. This topic has been beat to death if you search but in my opinion the Bentley just shows you good pictures of how things go together but lacks the step by step "how to do it" of the Haynes. The pictures in the Bentley though have saved me many times. |
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lovedavdubs
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2004
Posts: 1597
Location: New York, NY.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| kevinbassplayer wrote: |
| I own both also and find that they work well together. So my vote is that you should have both. If you can only get one right now however I would get the Bentley first. This topic has been beat to death if you search but in my opinion the Bentley just shows you good pictures of how things go together but lacks the step by step "how to do it" of the Haynes. The pictures in the Bentley though have saved me many times. |
Ditto on every word. I use the Bentley for the illustrations, and the Haynes for the directions. I've also got a Cylimers (spelling?) kind on a cross between the two.
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82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway. |
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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:22 pm Post subject: Get 'Em Both, Consult 'Em Both |
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The Haynes and the Bentley tend to supplement each other. I do like the British mechanics behind the Haynes, though, they occasionally have a very clever way of approaching a nasty problem. Consult both manuals before any major job, draw conclusions accordingly. The Haynes is a little easier to consult DURING the job.
Then there's the Haynes 'Spanner' system of job difficulty rating. I shall take this opportunity to post this, which I got somewhere a long time ago:
The Idiots Guide To The Haynes Manual
For those of us that have ever used a Haynes Manual:
Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer
anticlockwise.
Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles!
Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell matey!
Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That`ll teach you not to read through before you start,
now you are looking at scarey photos of the inside of a gearbox.
Haynes: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...
Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (catering size).
Haynes: remove small retaining clip
Translation: take off 15 years of stuban crud, its there somewhere
Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly had my eye out"!
Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - thats the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers
to dig out the bayonet part.
Haynes: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your
forehead are throbbing then re-check the manual because what you are
doing now cannot be considered as "lightly".
Haynes:remove drum retaining pin
Translation: brake every screwdriver in your box.
Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it!
Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn`t broken... it`s about to be!
Haynes: One spanner rating.
Translation: Your Mum could do this... so how did you manage to botch it up?
Haynes: Two spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a
low, tiny, ikkle number... but you also thought that the wiring diagram
was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more
use to you).
Haynes: Three spanner rating.
Translation: It's going to start out so, so well...
Haynes: Four spanner rating.
Translation: You are seriously considering this aren`t you, you pleb!
Haynes: Five spanner rating.
Translation: OK - but don`t expect us to ride it afterwards!!!
Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...
Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on it, swear
at it, throw at the garage wall, then search for it the dark corner of
the garage whilst muttering "bugger" repeatedly under your breath.
Haynes: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are
looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I
thought, it`s going to need a new one"! BTW, NAPA just closed.
Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to cut yourself!
Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that`s it, that big spherical blob of rust.
Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.
Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark pugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much
harder. Once that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach has
subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.
Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: But you swear in different places.
Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...
Haynes: Refit 4 retaining bolts.
Translation: Yes you will have to find the one under the bench.
Haynes: Using a suitable drift...
Translation: The biggest nail in your tool box isn`t a suitable drift! The suitable drift is there--bent.
Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: Ensure you have an RAC Card & Mobile Phone
Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn`t moderate heat. How are you on the subject of 'propane?' Is the phrase 'Second Degree Burn' familiar?
Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book bar the thing you
want to do!
Best! |
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K58
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006
Posts: 1173
Location: Santa Barbara
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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do you have a link to a Haynes manual for an '84 (watercooled)?
i didn't think there was one
thanks
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Westy HID Projector Retrofit
Last edited by K58 on Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wbx
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2005
Posts: 1254
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| K58 wrote: |
| do you have a link to a Haynes manual for an '84 (watercooled)? |
Give this a try.
-Damon
_________________
'84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go. |
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Karl
Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2001
Posts: 6170
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| wbx wrote: |
| K58 wrote: |
| do you have a link to a Haynes manual for an '84 (watercooled)? |
Give this a try.
-Damon |
Did they reverse the image on the cover 
No.....they put the steering wheel on the wrong side!!!  |
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tikibus
Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2006
Posts: 834
Location: Rochester, NY
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| Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Hey Savat,
Plan on getting both. It is like Forrest Gump said, (they)...go together like Peas and Carrots."
The Bentley is for those who know the ins and outs, while the Haynes is more for the ones who still like pop-up books, like me!
Use both and impress your Wife/ Loved one with the Vanagon knowledge you now posess 
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
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Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC |
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Savat
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 55
Location: the village
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| Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone. That is exactly the feedback that I needed and knew I would get.
Very helpful as always |
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K58
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006
Posts: 1173
Location: Santa Barbara
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wbx
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2005
Posts: 1254
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| K58 wrote: |
| WBX thanks for the link dude |
Glad to be of help... It is a good supplementary book to the bently, for sure.
-Damon
_________________
'84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go. |
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