Have you ever Lol'd at a service manual?

[User Name]

So I was working on a Panasonic Dp-MC210 (POS) and while looking through the service manual I noticed some things that made me laugh. First thing was when I saw that the machine had a drum virgin sensor and I know you're probably thinking I'm immature but so many thoughts went through my mind when I read that. The other thing I noticed was that this machine has a WTF sensor (teehee). Yeah, WTF were they thinking when they made this machine?

Happy Friday everyone!

[gwaddle]

The problem is, most manuals are apparently translated by people who have never heard or read the English language. I always liked the "lump unit" in the scanner section of one of the sharp copiers.

But it's not just copiers. I use to work on French helicopters, and ran into the same kind of thing. Maybe it would be a good idea to have proof readers that read English on a regular basis. Or whatever language it's being translated to. I may be an American, but I do realize there are other languages out there.

[ZOOTECH]

i believe it was a Sharp SD3062 manual that had a SNOT detector error.

[JustManuals]

Well, I've got some experience with manuals and I can tell you that these manufacturers need to get a person with a degree in English to proofread some of these manuals. There are tons of typing errors as well as numerous grammatical mistakes.

Paul@justmanuals.com

[Brian8506]

I remember a Canon instructor telling us that spark arrestor translated to Japanese was "protector from thunder bolt"

[blackcat4866]

The Sharp Pastel series displayed "Carbeuration" as a function in the color calibration menu. Did you know that there was a gasoline powered office copier? Funny thing about "L" and "R"s and Japanese editors. =^..^=

[KenB]

Anybody remember the original Canon drum cleaning powder? (it was cerium dioxide.)

The part number was "UCK-0005".

Very doubtful that was a coincidence...

[D_L_P]

From an old Minolta (4300?)manual "Keep consumables out of the rear of children"

[I3FusionGuy]

Cherry Server

Is one of the selections for Ricoh SP mode, I think its under 5 or 7....I wonder if it goes with the Virgin Drum detector?

Anyone know what it really is?

[mtech]

I remember one manual describing the fur brush. That always made my laugh. Oh yeah, does anyone remember Sharp putting out a bulletin showing how they were changing some of the part numbers from CUNT-XXXXFCZZ to DUNT-XXXXFCZZ. I wish I could still find the bulletin. I would have posted it. Talk about lost in translation! Imagine writing down that part number and price on a service report so Susie the office manager could approve the repair!

[CraigW]

KMBS talks about "lightning abnormality" for arching codes.

And for mis-spelling, I love the Konica 7045 machines display asking for the special "passward"

[Akitu]

Just on the sheer stupidity of how the manual was put together, I would have to throw in a contention for the HP LaserJet 5035 MP...
It seems like they were trying to make the service manual end-user-friendly and somehow got lost in that idea halfway through... To my understanding Toshiba manuals are horrid also.

[Tricky]

Just on the sheer stupidity of how the manual was put together, I would have to throw in a contention for the HP LaserJet 5035 MP...
It seems like they were trying to make the service manual end-user-friendly and somehow got lost in that idea halfway through... To my understanding Toshiba manuals are horrid also.

I remember getting a paper jam in a Toshiba and an error code. I looked up the error or jam code and it said please refer to chapter 5-1-2 or something like that. No page number to make it easy. The first thing the manual said was

'are you using the correct paper type'

wtf ??

Its white, 80gsm and the copiers set to that.


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We got sent a cd from Toshiba prior to my first training course years ago and I still remember one of the multiple choice answers

1 : The photo conductive drum has a negative charge the toner has a negative charge

2 : The photo conductive drum has a negative charge the toner also has a negative charge

Although both answers mean the same thing and the only difference being the word 'also' and are both correct Toshiba decided in this test that number 2 is correct and you get no points if you chose the first one.

[Akitu]

Wow, talk about some terrible translations. Interesting, thankfully I have not yet had to work on any Toshibas.

[mrwho]

Well, I've got some experience with manuals and I can tell you that these manufacturers need to get a person with a degree in English to proofread some of these manuals. There are tons of typing errors as well as numerous grammatical mistakes.

Although I agree with you, keep in mind these are technical manuals, not a romance or an epic tale (although some are so thick they could be carried by a grad student without atracting too much atention). I'm more worried with spelling errors in user manuals and on the machine's control panels - that's what they should contract proof readers for.