JIS Screwdrivers for motorcycles

[Dave.R]

Hey Guys,

I'm going to start working on my Yamaha FZ-1 soon. I'll be putting a carb kit in and I'm tired of risking JIS screws with Phillips drivers. I stripped out quite a few on my Nighthawk build and want to get the right tool for this time.

Anyways, Nobody around here seems to sell/make them, and I'm looking to order a set. I'm looking for input from guys that have Japanese cycles and have used JIS with success. I'm currently looking at this Hozen Set.

What brand do you have, and how have they held up?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[PJNJ]

I picked up the Vessel motorcycle repair kit/set about a year ago-

http://www.vesseltools.com/hand-too...ir/motorcycle-repair-kit/flypage_sku.tpl.html

Appear to be very high quality. Because of some issues I haven't been able to use them on the bikes yet but I had a partially stripped out #2 Philips on my garage door that I had to get off recently. I tried my Craftsman Pro (which had always worked well in the past) along with a few others I had - no go and started to make it worse. Then I remembered the Vessel drivers in my "motorcycle drawer" in the tool box. I grabbed it and it bit into the screw and removed it. I was amazed. So much so, that when I finish picking up some other needed tools I am going to get another couple of Vessel #2 as my "go to" screwdrivers.

Those Hozans look to be good also and will probably work fine.

 

[Dust Devil]

Wiha #2 phillips will work great on any screw on that FZ-1.

unless it is a #3 of course.

The cool thing that vessel makes is the impact screwdriver.

otherwise get yourself a set of Wiha comfort grip.

Not gonna need a lot of screwdriver for that FZ though.

I rebuild a dozen or so motorcycle carbs a week.

 

[Dave.R]

Wiha #2 phillips will work great on any screw on that FZ-1.

unless it is a #3 of course.

The cool thing that vessel makes is the impact screwdriver.

otherwise get yourself a set of Wiha comfort grip.

Not gonna need a lot of screwdriver for that FZ though.

I rebuild a dozen or so motorcycle carbs a week.

Even with getting in the carbs? I stripped so many on the Nighthawk it gives me vice-grip flash backs.

I think I'm going to order the 980 vessel driver. I think #2 JIS should do everything I need.

Thanks!

 

[knobby]

Try wiha ACO's or other makers ACR tip they work well with JIS screws

Back in the day the first thing that a seasoned dirt bike rider would do to a new ride would be change out all the engine case screws with allen cap screws.
None of us had a clue about what those little divots on the screw head meant all we knew was that the damn things would strip out unless we used a impact driver.

 

[catch2otwo]

carbs are notorious for having tight screws, JIS screw driver or not. A JIS driver may fit better and give you better bite, but most of the carbs I have pulled apart i needed an impact driver to get off without messing up the head.

I stick with an impact driver and my regular set of screw drivers. Haven't stripped out screws on carbs in a long time.

 

[1foxracing]

Back in the day the first thing that a seasoned dirt bike rider would do to a new ride would be change out all the engine case screws with allen cap screws.

Follow this advice here! All my personal bikes that are equipped with carburetors have this mod.

 

[Justind97]

I have a 3 piece Vessel set that I got on fleabay a few years ago. I work on mainly 70s Hondas and they are one of the best purchases I've made. Mine have a comfort grip built in.

 

[JBradley500]

I got these vessels not too long ago. Already I am impressed with how well they work. I have loosened and re-tightened multiple screws that I had "stripped" with normal phillips screwdrivers. I was going to buy the hozen set but didn't think they made a +3 size, which i needed. Also the vessel ones seem to get better reviews but they are more expensive.

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

I picked up the Vessel motorcycle repair kit/set about a year ago-

http://www.vesseltools.com/hand-too...ir/motorcycle-repair-kit/flypage_sku.tpl.html

Appear to be very high quality. Because of some issues I haven't been able to use them on the bikes yet but I had a partially stripped out #2 Philips on my garage door that I had to get off recently. I tried my Craftsman Pro (which had always worked well in the past) along with a few others I had - no go and started to make it worse. Then I remembered the Vessel drivers in my "motorcycle drawer" in the tool box. I grabbed it and it bit into the screw and removed it. I was amazed. So much so, that when I finish picking up some other needed tools I am going to get another couple of Vessel #2 as my "go to" screwdrivers.

Those Hozans look to be good also and will probably work fine.

+1 on this kit, the impact driver is awesome and I have the 150mm long handles for the #2 & #3 JIS drivers, very nice kit.

Try this with a regular Phillips driver.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[arz71]

I got these vessels not too long ago. Already I am impressed with how well they work. I have loosened and re-tightened multiple screws that I had "stripped" with normal phillips screwdrivers. I was going to buy the hozen set but didn't think they made a +3 size, which i needed. Also the vessel ones seem to get better reviews but they are more expensive.

Where did you order them from?

 

[NC-Shaun]

I have built so many sets of carbs with regular screwdrivers......Yes, sometimes the screws are soft, and yes I have replaced a screw or two but not something I ever found a need to buy a high dollar set of screw drivers for?

 

[NC-Shaun]

Side note: Any industrial supply house will have socket cap screws to replace those float bowl screws. They cost about 10cents a pc.... I have a hand held impact driver for stubborn screws, it doesnt take much to break em free usually.

 

[JBradley500]

Where did you order them from?

The big 3 came from amazon, the 2 small ones came from ebay from an telecommunications tech I believe. PS the small ones are tiny. I doubt i'll ever use them on a motorcycle.

 

[Man Cave]

Question: Are new or newer Japanese motorcycles assembled with JIS fasteners? I've been away from working on Japanese bikes since the late '70's but always looking around to buy one to restore. I like the Kaw Z1's.

 

[Biomed]

There are a number of posts here on Garage Journal about JIS screwdrivers. Rather than rehashing this you might wish to read some old posts. Probably the best way to do this is Google. Type "site:garagejournal.com JIS" in the Google search box and you should get more than you care to read.

Having said that, I have been using Vessel MegaDora JIS screwdrivers on a daily basis for over 3 years. I am extremely pleased with the performance of the JIS tips and find the Vessel MegaDora handles very comfortable.

The exclusive North American distributor for Vessel is JDV Products. The Web site is vesseltools.com. Level Chrome also sells some Vessel products. For those McMaster fans, they sell a limited selection of Vessel MegaDora screwdrivers.

 

[n8n]

I haven't even used them yet as I'm decidedly a krauthead, but after asking a similar question here a while back I ordered some Vessel brand bits because that's what the consensus seemed to be was good stuff (and I work on Japanese stuff so rarely that bits made more sense than buying dedicated screwdrivers.) I still need to get a bit holder for my hand impact though as it's SO and all the other bits I have for it have their own holders.

 

[bigjake22]

I don't work on motorcycles, but rather bicycles for a living. I was given a Vessel +2 Megadora 900 driver and use it daily. I like it so much that I decided I had to have a +0 and a +1. What I've found is that the bicycle industry has basically zero actual Phillips screws in current use. The Vessel screwdrivers fit the screws that I see on a daily basis so much better than any of the other ones I've used in the past that there's no comparison. I imagine that the Hozan screwdrivers are probably pretty decent, based on the general quality of other Hozan tools I've owned and used. I can speak first hand about the quality of the Vessel drivers and they're top notch in my book.

 

[PJNJ]

Question: Are new or newer Japanese motorcycles assembled with JIS fasteners? I've been away from working on Japanese bikes since the late '70's but always looking around to buy one to restore. I like the Kaw Z1's.

Old use them along with many new. Here's a link to WebBikeworld which is very good reference site to all things motorcycle -
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/jis-screwdrivers/

And here's review on Vessel screwdrivers -
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/jis-screwdrivers/vessel-jis-screwdrivers.htm

It's funny I didn't notice any problems with the size of the handles.

And back in the day I dreamed of having a Kawi 900. A few years ago, I picked up a 1980 1000LTD. The prior owner claimed to have done a lot of work but it seems he was full of it. I hope to get to it in the next couple of years and get it back on the road and looking good.

 

[pozidriv]

I couldn't believe how much a difference a proper JIS driver made when I first heard about them! I just got these vessel hand impact bits and they've served me extremely well. They've taken so many beatings and still manage to take out half stripped screws on '70s honda's.

http://www.autogereedschap.com/a-38...el-j-i-s-slag-impact-bitset-3-delig-p2-en-p3/

 

[Rogue1987]

I've got both hozan and vessels. The hozans are nice, even more so when you look at the price, but I really prefer the feeling of the vessels in my hand. Just fwiw.

Never thought about JIS bits for the impact. This place takes all my money!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[dnschmidt]

I see no reason to not use JIS bits on all Phillips screws. They work great on JIS screws and they work great on regular Phillips screws. I see no reason to not use them for all Phillips screws. To me they are just a better bit period.

 

[pozidriv]

They are more expensive and harder to find, I only use 'em on JIS screws.

 

[Dave.R]

I decided to give the Hozan set a go for the money. I may pick up some of the Vessel Impact drives if I end up having trouble.

Thanks guys.

 

[Freeborn John]

I find a Phillips with the point ground off makes an effective JIS driver.

 

[Bran Diezel]

Are JIS screws used on toyota iac valves, nissan side feed injector hold downs, honda misc ?

I'm asking because I have cussed stupid Japanese engineers for sticking these worthless pos in spots that you never can get correct leverage and the screw is 10-20yr old and siezed up something god awful.

If a set of JIS screwdrivers would benefit me it sure would be cheaper than flying to Japan and beating some ***.

 

[Freeborn John]

Incidentally, since nobody has mentioned it, and for the benefit of anyone who is new to JIS, the fasteners are identified by a single dot or dimple on the screw head.