JIS Screw Drivers & Screw Driver Bits

[2017EX_imp]

JIS ( Japanese Industrial Standard ) screw drivers and screw driver bits were mentioned quite a while back, in the excellent post the Ferret created about tools needed for working on the CB1100. In a nutshell, all the screw heads we see on the CB that appear to be a Philips head, are actually JIS Cross Head. I knew about this from doing basic maintenance on Japanese motorcycles over the past 45+ years, but some Japanese bike owners dont know about it.

A Philips screw driver will work, but has a tendency to "cam" out of the JIS Cross Head screw, sometimes causing damage, "boogering", of the screw head. This is something to be avoided, particularly on the clutch and front brake master cylinder covers. Instead of a full size set of JIS screw drivers, I use a set of JIS bits to use with my Craftsman handle. Easy to segregate in a small zip lock bag, inexpensive, and taking very little space in my tool box.

One of the premium Japanese tool brands is Vessel, and the company goes way back. I have a hand impact bought new back in 1968, I still have it, and it works just as well now as when I bought it. For a very good explanation, written and picutres, of the difference between JIS Cross Head, and Philips, check this web site: http://revlimiter.net/blog/2014/09/the-j...ewdrivers/

I found that vesseltools.com has much better pricing than revlimiter.net. Vesseltools.com is JDV Products Inc., and is the U.S. distributor for Vessel. JDV carries a full line of Vessel JIS, including screw driver sets, individual screw drivers, screw driver bit sets, and hand impact driver bits.

No, LOL, I dont work for JDV. I hope this will help out any of the membership that did not know about JIS.

[Lord Popgun]

I have 2 sets of Vessel screwdrivers in various sizes. One driver is an impact screwdriver they have now. Using the proper JIS driver makes working on bikes so much easier. They fit the screws perfectly and tightly. Vessel makes nice screwdrivers.

[Banned_imp]

Count me as one who had absolutely no idea about this.

Thanks for the info.

[KiowaEagle_imp]

Count me as one who had absolutely no idea about this.

Thanks for the info.

Ditto, I find it very interesting though and I love that impact screwdriver concept.

[Lord Popgun]

Here is a source: https://www.vesseltools.com/ you can check them out.

The gray 980 is the impact driver.

There are plenty of places to order from, not just the one I listed. Amazon has the listed too.

[KiowaEagle_imp]

Here is a source: https://www.vesseltools.com/ you can check them out.

The gray 980 is the impact driver.

There are plenty of places to order from, not just the one I listed. Amazon has the listed too.

Cool, thanks! And thanks 2017 for the heads up on this.

[Lord Popgun]

Actually I guess 2017 had both sites listed in his post. Sorry 2017

[2017EX_imp]

Actually I guess 2017 had both sites listed in his post. Sorry 2017

No worries Popgun, the only thing thats important is getting the word out about the right tool.

[Stichill_imp]

+1 on the use of JIS vs. Phillips. I used to think Japanese equipment had the worst-quality, most easily-stripped cross-head screws imaginable. Then I learned I was an idiot for using Phillips screwdrivers on JIS screws.

Phillips were originally developed when automatic screw guns had no torque control, and thus were designed to cam out when too much torque was applied. Exactly what we do not want in a screw today. I'm surprised they are still so widely used.