Log in

View Full Version : JIS vs Phillips head Screwdrivers -- a good read for anyone with an older Japanese motorcycle



CS1983
11-11-2016, 19:26
I'd post the article's contents, but it's got a lot of special formatting and pics. If anyone has an older Japanese bike they want to do some winter work on, might want to read the article first.

Quick primer:

JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screws look like Phillips, but they're not. If you've ever wondered why your screws were a pain and tend toward stripping easily, they just might be JIS.

67953
"Phillips head screw (R) has rounded corners, supposedly designed so the screwdriver will "cam out" at maximum torque."

The author shows the history of JIS, their use, and what modern screwdriver bits are closest to them for the easiest fit. Hope this saves someone a headache.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/hozan-jis-screwdrivers-review/

beast556
11-11-2016, 19:49
Stop being a know it all[ROFL1]

Great-Kazoo
11-11-2016, 19:55
Stop being a know it all[ROFL1]

with only 433 post no less. Mutha Fooker

CS1983
11-11-2016, 19:57
Stop being a know it all[ROFL1]

?

This is a hot topic every few months on a motorcycle forum I'm on when someone comes on wondering why they just stripped all their screws. Seems we have a sizeable contingent of bikers here, so figured it may be a useful article. Did I miss something?

Great-Kazoo
11-11-2016, 20:00
?

This is a hot topic every few months on a motorcycle forum I'm on when someone comes on wondering why they just stripped all their screws. Seems we have a sizeable contingent of bikers here, so figured it may be a useful article. Did I miss something?

Yes....... Sarcasm ........[Coffee]

CS1983
11-11-2016, 20:01
Yes....... Sarcasm ........[Coffee]

Ah. If you have an article to help me catch it next time, I'd be appreciative. :D

Great-Kazoo
11-11-2016, 20:15
Ah. If you have an article to help me catch it next time, I'd be appreciative. :D

http://people.howstuffworks.com/sarcasm1.htm

[Beer]
(http://people.howstuffworks.com/sarcasm1.htm)

beast556
11-11-2016, 21:57
Check out the experts thread. I was just messing with you.

brutal
11-12-2016, 02:49
I'd post the article's contents, but it's got a lot of special formatting and pics. If anyone has an older Japanese bike they want to do some winter work on, might want to read the article first.

Quick primer:

JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screws look like Phillips, but they're not. If you've ever wondered why your screws were a pain and tend toward stripping easily, they just might be JIS.

67953
"Phillips head screw (R) has rounded corners, supposedly designed so the screwdriver will "cam out" at maximum torque."

The author shows the history of JIS, their use, and what modern screwdriver bits are closest to them for the easiest fit. Hope this saves someone a headache.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/hozan-jis-screwdrivers-review/

Same issue with vintage Japanese stereo equipment, but to a lesser degree as things tend to have only slightly less factory torque applied.

BPTactical
11-12-2016, 09:03
Reed and Prince for the win!

ChadAmberg
11-12-2016, 09:22
Neat.

I will say, I hope that Allen guy burns in hell. Burns in hell I say!!!

Great-Kazoo
11-12-2016, 09:40
Neat.

I will say, I hope that Allen guy burns in hell. Burns in hell I say!!!

No need to torx out over it.

TFOGGER
11-12-2016, 10:24
As a professional motorcycle mechanic for over 20 years, I have a better solution: Stop buying cheap shit screwdrivers. Quality JIS screwdrivers are rarer than virgins in a whorehouse. Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, Stanley...all shit. I've removed more "hopelessly stripped" JIS and Phillips screws with my Snapon screwdrivers than I can count, with little drama. My advice to anyone working on their own bikes is to buy GOOD screwdrivers: Snapon, Cornwell, MAC. You can thank me later, or you can pay me later to remove the screw you mangled with your Craftsman garbage.

sniper7
11-12-2016, 10:34
I've found harbor freight screwdrivers to do an excellent job at removing stripped heads that my craftsman screwdrivers jack up. And the HF ones are magnetic to boot!

BPTactical
11-12-2016, 10:52
As a professional motorcycle mechanic for over 20 years, I have a better solution: Stop buying cheap shit screwdrivers. Quality JIS screwdrivers are rarer than virgins in a whorehouse. Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, Stanley...all shit. I've removed more "hopelessly stripped" JIS and Phillips screws with my Snapon screwdrivers than I can count, with little drama. My advice to anyone working on their own bikes is to buy GOOD screwdrivers: Snapon, Cornwell, MAC. You can thank me later, or you can pay me later to remove the screw you mangled with your Craftsman garbage.

"Expert"












[Coffee]

HoneyBadger
11-12-2016, 11:03
"Expert"







[Coffee]
*TRIGGERED*
[panic]

TFOGGER
11-12-2016, 11:41
"Expert"












[Coffee]

You misspelled "jack ass"....[ROFL1]

ben4372
11-13-2016, 21:29
I can't believe someone hasn't brought up Pozidriv. It looks like Phil's design, but better. Lots of great screwdrivers out there. You just cant buy them everywhere. And most people have a tough time buying 20 dollar screwdrivers.

wctriumph
11-13-2016, 21:35
As a professional motorcycle mechanic for over 20 years, I have a better solution: Stop buying cheap shit screwdrivers. Quality JIS screwdrivers are rarer than virgins in a whorehouse. Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, Stanley...all shit. I've removed more "hopelessly stripped" JIS and Phillips screws with my Snapon screwdrivers than I can count, with little drama. My advice to anyone working on their own bikes is to buy GOOD screwdrivers: Snapon, Cornwell, MAC. You can thank me later, or you can pay me later to remove the screw you mangled with your Craftsman garbage.

TRUTH!!!

Around 1972 I was tired of fighting the screws on my Hondas and swapped everything to allen head. When I started to make a living working on bikes, I discovered that paying extra for Snap-On was not just paying for the name. Quality tools are more than worth the money.

milwaukeeshaker
11-14-2016, 11:49
Older Japanese motorcycle?? I thought they were all in the junkyard.

Great-Kazoo
11-14-2016, 12:21
Older Japanese motorcycle?? I thought they were all in the junkyard.

They've been recycled to your tacoma or silverado

OR made in to good looking throwback choppers

fly boy
11-14-2016, 12:21
You know, a small enough flathead works in both a JIS and Phillips..... Hope that helps

y4m4
11-14-2016, 22:50
I read the same thing and rushed to buy some "JIS" screwdrivers on Amazon. I ended up with Hozan JIS-4 set and guess what, the tips look exactly like my Wiha, Wera, Snapon, and Witte/Mac screwdrivers. (I have a lot of screwdrivers. They just keep multiplying.)

Kind of frustrating to spend $20 on what amounts to a set of average-quality phillips screwdrivers with crappy handles.

SAnd
11-15-2016, 07:27
I've always been able to find the correct fitting bits. You don't need a different complete screwdriver for each different type of screw head. You can have a bigger variety of bits on hand for the same money. I'm also more inclined to replace the less expensive bits when they are worn rather than trying to keep using them past their prime. There are less stripped heads that way.