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