[ssevy]

Discussions of these have appeared in several of the motorcycle mags in recent months, and having buggered up a few "Phillips" screw heads on my bike, I bought a set. They fit those JIS screw heads (brake and clutch master cylinders, etc.) perfectly, and are a valuable addition to any toolbox. Here's the set I bought, and they are top quality:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-screwdrivers/=mlqlr7

 

[Mr Bentwrench]

Typical British. Whitworth screwdrivers.

 

[WSC]

JIS means Whitworth in Japanese.

 

[hawk#1]

jis is short for japanesse industral standard i belive those type of screw heads are pression type screw heads more common in model aircraft ,car ect but i do belive they were used on m/cycles in mastercylinder resiviors ect my 2d worth

 

[Slinky]

I have a better plan. Murder the JIS screws with an ill-fitting Phillips screwdriver, then replace them all with shiny new stainless Allen screws.

It's not really a plan as such, just what happens.

 

[IrlMike]

Lol, that's how my plan goes too. Most recently the clutch m/c reservoir screws. I've found the impact screwdriver most effective in hastening the process

 

[jaguartvr]

They drill out very easily, they are only made of cheese.

 

[ssevy]

Barbarians

 

[phoneman]

I have a better plan. Murder the JIS screws with an ill-fitting Phillips screwdriver, then replace them all with shiny new stainless Allen screws.

It's not really a plan as such, just what happens.

Yes but what do you replace them with ? The Allen screws I bought are slightly too deep so sit proud of the top of the master cylinder.

 

[lovecuba]

Screws

Yes but what do you replace them with ? The Allen screws I bought are slightly too deep so sit proud of the top of the master cylinder.

The PO replaced both sets of original screws with identical stainless one's on my machine. They are a breeze to remove.

 

[WSC]

Barbarians

+1 Do it right or stay home. okeit

 

[Bendix]

i thought this was interesting...

http://www.instructables.com/id/When-a-Phillips-is-not-a-Phillips/

 

[IrlMike]

Yeah, thanks Bendix, interesting....here's what they say about JIS:

Advantages and Disadvantages of JIS

Most people and companies outside of Japan have absolutely no idea what they are. With the similarity in appearance to the Frearson and the Phillips the screws are often damaged in removing and installing with the wrong tools. JIS tends not to camout like Philips. The JIS driver can be used on Phillips quite easily but not reciprically. Drivers are not easily available in North America, try your local RC Airplane hobby shop. Most RC Helicopters use JIS screws to mount the propeller. JIS-spec cross-head screws are generally marked with a single raised dot or an "X". JIS always fit Phillip fasteners, but because of slight design differences, Phillips drivers may not fit JIS fasteners. (unless the tip is ground down a bit).

So, looks like JIS bits would cover Philips as well. But I've looked a couple of times & not found anywhere offering them in Europe. (And not exactly jumping out of the woodwork in the US either.)

Might try the tip grinding thing on an old impact bit tho' as I've just bought some new ones.

 

[hawk#1]

I had a look online mike and you can buy them in europe from model arcrnaft shops i look for the link and post it later wen i get banck from work

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Slinky]

Yes but what do you replace them with ? The Allen screws I bought are slightly too deep so sit proud of the top of the master cylinder.

You should have no problem finding the right length on ebay. Bear in mind that csk screw length is quoted overall not just the threaded part

 

[hawk#1]

okies for any body in uk or europe looking for jis screw driver set here is a link to a place i found that sells them mind they are expencive but guess it would save a lot of hassle with strip screw heads http://www.probuild-uk.co.uk/aircraft-division/tools/screwdriver-sets/jis-screwdriver-set.html i just noticed they are out of stock at present but id assume they can get them for you

 

[IrlMike]

Cheers hawk, I'll look into getting some. The issue for me is not so much any screws on the Triumph but the old Jap bikes I get to work on occasionally for other people. That said, most of the screws are already well mashed before I get near them, lol.

Generally, the impact Philips will do the job with minimal damage, even for tight screws. The only ones I've actually had to drill have been the T3 m/c countersunk screws. (Much bigger surface area to corrode/get stuck with CSK)

 

[tooblekain]

I bought a set of JIS screwdrivers from Amazon. They have been used quite a lot. When I was parting out my Daytona 675 there are actually a lot of JIS screws on the bike as well as on my Ninja 250. IIRC the Bonnie carbs has a lot of them too, but Ive switched them out to allen screws.

 

[CKutz_GO]

in case anyone wants to switch them it looks like they are M5x.8x18 countersunk/flat from what i measured. correct me if I'm wrong

 

[WSC]

A JIS screw driver will often remove a buggered JIS screw when a Phillips just cams out. I wrote a post for another site a while back on the subject and I thought I copied or linked to it here, somewhere.

(Found it, duplicated here).

With great regularity, someone makes a post cursing those pesky Phillips head screws, or suggesting using an impact tool to disassemble carburetors, or recommending replacing all the carb screws with 10 or 12 dollars worth of stainless steel socket head screws.

Being a mechanic who takes pride in his work, I cringe every time I see this. Why?
There are no Phillips head screws on a Honda motorcycle.

Hondas, and most other Japanese bikes use a standard called JIS. It looks like Phillips, but it isn't. A Phillips driver does not fit the screw properly, is prone to camming out, and is certain to bugger the heads of all but the most loosely installed screws. In fact, Phillips screws and drivers are designed to cam out to prevent overtorquing the fastener.

JIS screws can often be identified by a small dot or dimple in one of the quadrants of the head.

JIS drivers can be obtained through McMaster Carr or you can get drivers or 1/4" hex tips for your favorite magnetic screw driver from RJR Cool Tools. A #2 will cover most of the critical stuff; carb tops and bowls and hydraulic reservoir covers. I think there may be some #3 screws on some of the carb racks.

So, bugger your screws up then spend money on an impact tool and a new set of screws, or buy the right tool and use it for a lifetime.

:angrysoapbox