Everyone should own a copy of the Model A Service Bulletins

[RonC]

There are a lot of books and articles written out there with some good and some bad advice. But, I'm not sure how anyone that intends on working on a Model A can do so without a copy of Ford’s Model A Service Bulletins written by Ford for distribution to repairmen at the time. The bulletins describe in detail how to diagnose, repair and adjust the Model A Ford. Some information may be found to be missing in certain repairs. Repairmen were educated through other Ford literature in repairing Fords such as Ford service schools and classes, past Ford literature such as the model T service bulletins, Ford factory service letters and other generally understood repair methods at the time. Certainly there is a place for literature written by non-Ford sources but that information should be used in conjunction with the Ford Bulletins and accessed.

[ctlikon0712]

I just finished reading my copy last week and I couldn't agree more, a invaluable aid!

[Bruce Lancaster]

Service bulletins, owner's manual, and parts catalog are all fundamental...and the owner's manual alone would answer an astounding percentage on the online questions. All also give you a solid standpoint for judging the very mixed information offered online and in modern books that everyone seems to have...

But then the power of the internet cannot be overlooked...look up a lubricant or number in the Service Bulletins, and you get one lousy answer...here online you can get dozens and dozens of entirely different answers!

[Steve Wastler]

I agree, have read mine cover to cover dozens of times. JS&RG also....

[Kurt in NJ]

I originally had a reprint, now I have an original, it has more pictures, and also pencil written notes in the margins from classes at tecnical school on some pages in the 28-29 era. with the service bulletins, a parts book, and some general automotive knowledge most any repair can be done properly on your A

[Mitch//pa]

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and to this day TSB's are issued on modern cars

[Special Coupe Frank]

Is there one master-compilation of Service Bulletins for the Model A ?

I ordered a set from one of the usual suppliers, and it seemed like it was a regional publication, from a Ford branch or Zone, not from the Mother Ship, as it were ?

[329s]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

Is there one master-compilation of Service Bulletins for the Model A ?

I ordered a set from one of the usual suppliers, and it seemed like it was a regional publication, from a Ford branch or Zone, not from the Mother Ship, as it were ?

Frank,

Yes, there is only one (1) "master-compilation" of the Ford Service Bulletins.

The BEST copy by far is the one you can get through MARC as it has ALL OF THE PAGES associated with it as the original...there is another COPY out there but lacking some of the pages that are in the MARC copy.

What you have MIGHT be the Ford Service Letters from Indianapolis or Fargo or Chicago?????

Pluck

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

Is there one master-compilation of Service Bulletins for the Model A ?

I ordered a set from one of the usual suppliers, and it seemed like it was a regional publication, from a Ford branch or Zone, not from the Mother Ship, as it were ?

Did you mean "SERVICE LETTERS"? They were for different areas, but the SERVICE BULLETINS should all be the same across the nation.

Be sure to buy the full size edition of the SERVICE BULLETINS, as they are much easier to read and have pages the smaller yellow book doesn't have.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

Is there one master-compilation of Service Bulletins for the Model A ?

I ordered a set from one of the usual suppliers, and it seemed like it was a regional publication, from a Ford branch or Zone, not from the Mother Ship, as it were ?

As Pluck said it sounds like you have the Indy Service Letters. The best copy of the Bulletins available today is the full size shown below. Do not order "MODEL A FORD SERVICE BULLETINS Complete" as they are small and not "complete"!

[d.j. moordigian]

I always wondered about my copy of "Ford Service Bullentin Complete", that I've had
since 1965. It starts off on page # 202..

Thank you.


* according to MARC, off the web sight, they are sold out. *

[Special Coupe Frank]

Okay; that explains it ...

Thanks for the clarification.

I think I have the Fargo service LETTERS...

I assume MARC will do another run of Service Bulletins at some point ?

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by d.j. moordigian

I always wondered about my copy of "Ford Service Bullentin Complete", that I've had
since 1965. It starts off on page # 202..

Thank you.


* according to MARC, off the web sight, they are sold out. *

The originals start on page 201. The little book omitted all pages they considered lacking in technical information. There isn't anything really significant missing but the large version is more useful anyway.

Most parts suppliers carry the MARC book.

[Charlie Stephens]

This book makes excellent reading material for long airplane flights (thats where I read mine completely).

Charlie Stephens

[SUHRsc]

The first 200 pages are model-T... the service bulletins were a continuation not a seperate book when originally printed

[Bruce Lancaster]

The 1932 Bulletins, available in a full-size copy of just the '32 pages, would also be of interest to many here as it contains what amounts to a Model B shop manual.
After '32, Ford just about stopped mentioning the 4 cylinders.
By the way, the T bulletins run back to about the time of the first and last (for a long time) Ford shop manualsomewhere right around 1925; I think Ford intended that to remain as a semi-permanent set of basics on how to run dealership repair work, continually amended by the bulletins.
The basic series of Bulletins covering the Model A was in effect from late T days through 1937...after that the format and approach of bulletins changed.

[FL&WVMIKE]

I totally agree that the Service Bulletins are a good source for restoring. When I bought my "A" in 1961, that was about the only thing out there that covered nearly everything. I learned a lot from them.
Don't forget the "Judging Standards", for now days.
MIKE

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

.look up a lubricant or number in the Service Bulletins, and you get one lousy answer...here online you can get dozens and dozens of entirely different answers!

haha! Love it.

[Hicktick]

Were their no Ford repair manuals ?????

Modern service bulletins are to correct things in written repair manuals.

The combined knowledge of mechanics in the field of the dealer network is used to correct repair procedures .

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster
.look up a lubricant or number in the Service Bulletins, and you get one lousy answer...here online you can get dozens and dozens of entirely different answers!

And sometimes many of the dozens of answers are wrong or incomplete.

Bob

[Drive Shaft Dave]

I have owned The Yellow Book since 1973, If you own a Model A , this should be part of your library.

[LukeDahlinger]

The Service Bulletins are great as is Victor Page's Model A Book. The Page book is great reading material and you follow along as a Early '28 Coupe is stripped down and put back together with detailed info of each process.

To me the Service Bulletins are a hell of a lot better resource than the Les Andrews books some folks seem to pine over.

[columbiA]

Ive had my Dan Post repro of the SB,s since 1957.I used the instructions to replace the top on the Victoria that I had at the time.It realy helps to know when changes took place.

[frank55a]

MARC did publish a full size reprint of the Service Bulletins. MARC's publication was sold in a 3 ring binder, which had embossed covers looked similar to the original SB covers. MARC's copy was a good quality reprint and available from 1997 until a few years ago. I do not know of any plans to reprint this copy.

The Ford Motor Company had 35 Branch Offices in the US during the Model A era. The Service Letters (also known as 'Assembly Change Letters'), from 3 of these branch offices are available still available from MARC. However, when the supply runs out, I am not aware of any plans for additional reprinting. Since changes happened so quickly during the Model A era, the Service Bulletins many times followed changes by several weeks. The Service Letters from the Branches (Assembly Plants) supplemented the Service Bulletins and in many cases contained more detail. The service Letters were technical letters to the dealers, and advised the dealer of any and all changes in assembling the Model A and AA. They were also published more frequently than once a month so they contained more up to date information for the Dealers. For example, the 1928 Fargo, ND Service Letters contain about as many pages as the full set of the Service Bulletins.

The Service Bulletins are a great reference document and every Model Aer should have a copy. Likewise, the Service Letters contain a lot of information that is not in the Bulletins. I also strongly suggest that every Model Aer purchase a copy of Steve Plucker's Comprehensive Index which covers the Service Bulletins and the 3 sets of the Service letters that are available.

[Don/WI]

I have a copy of the Service Bulletins that was printed in paperback that measures 5.75" x 8.5". I bought it shortly after I bought my first "A" in 1966. It wa sabout the only technical book available at the time. It was my "A" Bible. Every page is worn and there are "dirty grease" smudges all over the edges. I wouldn't sell that book for any money. Everytime I pick it up, I recall all of the times I opened the pages to get answers to questions I had. Today I have the reprint of the original size Service Bulletins with the three ring folder, along with all of Les Andrews technical publications as well as many of the other technical books available. They all have valuable information, but none bring back the pleasent memories I have of using that first copy of the Service Bulletins that I have. Guess my age is showing. Don/WI

[LukeDahlinger]

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Originally Posted by Don/WI

I have a copy of the Service Bulletins that was printed in paperback that measures 5.75" x 8.5". I bought it shortly after I bought my first "A" in 1966. It wa sabout the only technical book available at the time. It was my "A" Bible. Every page is worn and there are "dirty grease" smudges all over the edges. I wouldn't sell that book for any money. Everytime I pick it up, I recall all of the times I opened the pages to get answers to questions I had. Today I have the reprint of the original size Service Bulletins with the three ring folder, along with all of Les Andrews technical publications as well as many of the other technical books available. They all have valuable information, but none bring back the pleasent memories I have of using that first copy of the Service Bulletins that I have. Guess my age is showing. Don/WI

I'm the same way with mine. Between the Service Bulletins, Page's book, and an old Dyke's manual and the How To Restore your Model A series, I got through most any problem I had.

When the Les Andrews book first came out, you would've thought it was the second coming of Christ the way some talked about that book. It pales in comparison to the Service Bulletins, the Service Letters(glad to see some of those get reprinted).

[329s]

Originally Posted by frank55a

MARC did publish a full size reprint of the Service Bulletins. MARC's publication was sold in a 3 ring binder, which had embossed covers looked similar to the original SB covers. MARC's copy was a good quality reprint and available from 1997 until a few years ago. I do not know of any plans to reprint this copy.

The Ford Motor Company had 35 Branch Offices in the US during the Model A era. The Service Letters (also known as 'Assembly Change Letters'), from 3 of these branch offices are available still available from MARC. However, when the supply runs out, I am not aware of any plans for additional reprinting. Since changes happened so quickly during the Model A era, the Service Bulletins many times followed changes by several weeks. The Service Letters from the Branches (Assembly Plants) supplemented the Service Bulletins and in many cases contained more detail. The service Letters were technical letters to the dealers, and advised the dealer of any and all changes in assembling the Model A and AA. They were also published more frequently than once a month so they contained more up to date information for the Dealers. For example, the 1928 Fargo, ND Service Letters contain about as many pages as the full set of the Service Bulletins.

The Service Bulletins are a great reference document and every Model Aer should have a copy. Likewise, the Service Letters contain a lot of information that is not in the Bulletins. I also strongly suggest that every Model Aer purchase a copy of Steve Plucker's Comprehensive Index which covers the Service Bulletins and the 3 sets of the Service letters that are available.

I would like to see a reprint of all the Fordson/Dearborn Service Letters if there is such a thing. And as Vince says...New York, Louisville and any others that are out there.

By the way...are there others floating around????

Pluck

[Bick in New Zealand]

Has anyone seen a full set of Canadian ones?

[John Butts in CT]

I've been offline for a while, but I couldn't agree more that an owner's manual (correct year) and a copy of Ford’s Model A Service Bulletins are the first two books any "A" owner should acquire.

[KR500]

Just another belief that all responders are correct in their belief of how good the Service bulletins are. Every A owner should read them and refer to them. Some years back I acquired a Ford publication on Ford alignment. It was published in 1936, but the info actually is correct for all the Ford front axle layouts thru V-8 years. I asked Pluck about the publication and the Ford schools which were set up in major cities, but were not able to find out much. I also approached Post Poly prints about reprinting the book, no interest. I scanned the book and anyone wanting a copy which is 63 pages can contact me. For the price of postage and a CD i will forward it. I will email anyone interested a few pages to see, no charge. [email protected]

[sconnors]

Just got mine the other day and haven't put it down...what a wealth of information! I'm new to the "A" world and this seems like a great tool to have!

[Kurt in NJ]

Since i first got the car I have had a reprint, not knowing what i was missing till I got an original ---many pictures, and hand written notes in the margins from training school on the early editions, corrections and refrences to them on the later ones

[Duffy1]

Marco ;

I wish I had seen your post before I ordered " Ford Service Bulletins Complete " . $50 delivered and a big disappointment . Vendor said they were THE "Ford Service Bulletins " Same as the ones that are out of print . Live and learn .

[Semper Fi]

Isn't Bratton's number 37340 the one I should have? ($16.50)

Ernie

[d.j. moordigian]

There is an original on ebay...1920-? (has A's),.......$ 845.00....

...................380460910092................

[Semper Fi]

Wow, that's a tidy sum. I'd be afraid of spilling a can of oil on it.(I'm kinda clumsy)

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Somewhere in the Bulletins, I read,"When washing your car, engage the park brake, so it doesn't get water in it"?????????? Bill W.