JIS screwdrivers

Mailman

Mailman

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It is with great reluctance that I am retiring my "lucky" screwdriver. It was my fathers, it's my touchstone. It's old and imperfect with a slightly bent shaft and every time I use it , I think of him. However as much as I love this imperfect screwdriver , it doesn't love my 650. I have damaged a number of screws with it. So..I have ordered a set of Hozan JIS screwdrivers.
image.jpeg

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My " Lucky Screwdriver"

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I'll still use my screwdriver for fixing things around the house, but my 650 is going to be getting some new love.

By the way, it's funny, I went to Harbor Freight and asked if they had any and this burly employee told me " I've been working on motorcycles my whole life and I've never heard of them." He looked at me like I had three eyes.
 
Yup, the difference btw Phillips and JIS is subtle....but quite noticeable. For one thing, you can "load" a screw onto the JIS and it won't fall off the way a Phillips will, plus you get get A LOT more torque on a screw with it.

You can let Mailman Srs. screwdriver watch the fun from an honoured perch up on the tool wall. That's where I've got my Dad's old level and Simpson multimeter stored.

Pete
 
Once you start using the proper JIS drivers you won't let anything else near your Japanese bikes.
 
Does anyone know if these are the drivers that, I believe Grizld uses?
He had a post about a certain driver for carbs that fit the jets perfectly.
 
Agreed - Vessel is the "Snap-on of the Orient".

They are widely available on Amazon or elsewhere on the web and the cost is not too high - $50-100 for a good set. Lots of nice features including a little knurled section just below the pretty blue-green handles. The knurling makes it easier to spin out a very long screw once it is loosened off a bit - surprisingly useful.
 
Yes JIS are good to use. Any reputable maker. This will be considered heresy but I find many "phillips" bits from reputable makers also work fine. For me it's check the fit before applying torque. I have 100's of screwdrivers and bits from everywhere, many are just old crap, LOL. After years I got smart and now toss worn phillips bits and screwdrivers. I regrind straight screwdrivers and have a set I have made just for carb work. Klein makes some very good screwdrivers. Stihl brand screw drivers do an excellent job on most of the jets. There are some other aftermarket screwdrivers found hanging around the chainsaw section of the hardware that do a good job also.
If I was only allowed one piece of advice to a would be motorcycle mechanic it would be; use the impact screwdriver to loosen any screw that wants more than casual torque to remove. If one or two smacks don't loosen it, tighten for a smack or two then retry loosen. Feel is important, if a screw starts to bind on the way out, STOP, lube, retighten. attempt to remove again. Damage to an aluminum casting by forcing out a screw that is buggering threads can ruin your day. If you're really bored look into phillips history, they were designed to cam out before stripping threads on the assembly line (this may be an urban legend) but that's how tye are used in sheetrock installation.
The number of styles of screw drives is staggering. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives
 
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This reminds me of an episode on King of Queens TV show. The episode was Arthur invents a screwdriver. It's on YouTube,
Anyway Arthur designs what he calls the Arthur drive screwdriver that has an A on the end of the screwdriver that would fit into an A on the screw. When he was describing how to use it he said "You take the A and stick it into the a hole."
I just about fell out of my chair laughing! :laugh2:

IMG_3876.JPG
 
Makes about as much sense as having 30 different incompatible drive types LOL One of the failings of the patent and licensing system.
 
Bill, I have a set of Vessel long bits that forum member (and 650 Society Member Coordinator) bluebikerblan gave me a few years back. I only see the short bits on Vessels's site now, but you won't go wrong with anything they make.

Edit: they have 1/4" drive long bits in the impact tool section, different shank pattern from the ones Blue gave me.
 
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I just read that prior to seeing your post. That is a very illuminating article. Here I go again rushing in before doing my home work. It appears I bought some rather low quality screwdrivers that may be no better than what I was hoping to replace. Grrr!
 
The amount of screws I've mangled is unbelievable, in my young head it was because the screws were old and corroded...until I accidentally used a JIS screw driver and all the screw popped off as it they where hand tightened.
 
Same as fredintoon, I have replaced almost all JIS/phillips on my bike with allen head bolts (cap screws). It just makes maintenance so easy. I have even replaced the long screws that hold the stator housing with allen head bolts. About the only JIS screws left are the ones that hold the butterflys on the throttle shafts, and I have special screwdriver for those.
 
Mailman said:
I just read that prior to seeing your post. That is a very illuminating article. Here I go again rushing in before doing my home work. It appears I bought some rather low quality screwdrivers that may be no better than what I was hoping to replace. Grrr!
Click to expand...

Actually, I've got a set of Hozans AND a set of Vessels (ok, ok...yeah, my name is Pete and I am a tool-a-holic) and I find both of them useful. The Vessels are a bit nicer to use (and they look sooooo pretty) but the Hozans have smaller handles and so are good for some of the tighter spots.

Pete
 

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