JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) Drivers

1foxracing

1foxracing

PR Addict
I don't know if it's widely known in the MX community that Japanese "phillips" screw heads are different from others. I work on motorcycles out of my home and I can always tell when someone tried to use a regular phillips #2 driver and mangled the head. This was a big problem on 1970's streetbikes where many engine covers were held on with JIS screws. Most screws back then required a impact driver to remove engine side covers and such.
I'm not sure if modern 4-stroke MXers even have many phillips type screws or have moved to Torx or triple square like modern streetbikes. If you are having problems with screws on your Japanese motorcycle you might want to try a set of these.
This is a Hozan JIS set I recently picked up on Amazon. Vessel tool is another good brand that makes them as well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003F63WI8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Standard #2 Phillips on the Left, JIS #2 on the Right.
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I just finished a 4 bank carb rebuild and can show how to ID these JIS screws now. I can almost guarantee if you are working on Keihin or Mikuni carburetors you will see these JIS screws. I hope everyone can see the little dot at the 12:00 position on the head, that dot identifies these as JIS type but they don't always have this. On other folks bikes I usually replace these with Hex heads to prevent damage down the road. If you use the correct JIS drivers your screwheads won't get mangled like these.
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Thanks for posting this. You just solved the mystery of why all of the fastens on my carbs are stripped out. Wish I knew this 25yrs ago.
 
I always just used a #1 phillips bit without any issues. Nice to know you can get the proper tool though! Didnt know it was a special size.
 
Interesting for sure. I always broke the carb screws loose with safety wire pliers before using a screwdriver
 
Thank you for the advice. I have had this issue in the past but never attributed it to using the wrong tool. I still have my impact driver from working on my 1968 Bridgestone 100. LOL .
 
I had a pair of these 2-3 years ago. They feel like they "snap" in the head of the screw and bite like crazy. No more stripped screws for me. Low and behold...the main one I use is missing from the tool box :-(
 
Good Information, thanks for the post on this.

I just ordered the Hozan JIS-5 set tonight.
I really like the Vessel impact screwdrivers as well, have to add a set of those to my Get-List.

I also spent a fair amount of time hunting for a set of JIS driver bits for my hand impact tool. I had a lot more difficulty with that. There are plenty of offerings of JIS bits that are 1/4" shank, but the impact driver uses a 5/16"or 8mm shank bit. I'm always cautious buying internationally but I did find a set of three 5/16 JIS driver bits on ebay from a seller in France. I used Paypal for the transaction. Nobody stateside even offered them.
 
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NQ1965 said:
I also spent a fair amount of time hunting for a set of JIS driver bits for my hand impact tool. I had a lot more difficulty with that. There are plenty of offerings of JIS bits that are 1/4" shank, but the impact driver uses a 5/16"or 8mm shank bit. I'm always cautious buying internationally but I did find a set of three 5/16 JIS driver bits on ebay from a seller in France. I used Paypal for the transaction. Nobody stateside even offered them
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Ever use these?
 
1foxracing said:
If you still have a Sears close to you they have Vessel make them the impact drivers under the Craftsman name.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-2-pc...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLzj3vLqjtgCFVRlAQodtosE0w
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Interesting.... I'll have to slip over to our sears and see if they have this.

k01 said:
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Ever use these?
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Yea I actually have socket adapters for the hand impact, and have used them. But I should see if I can find the 1/2" socket to 1/4" shank driver for impact. (or just a 3/8" drive unit and use with the 1/2"x3/8" socket adapter)

I can't remember if I mentioned this before or not but Motion Pro offers a T handle driver with three tips for JIS.
I ordered three of those, for myself, my son and my dad.
 
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NQ1965 said:
I can't remember if I mentioned this before or not but Motion Pro offers a T handle driver with three tips for JIS.
I ordered three of those, for myself, my son and my dad.
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If you like using T handles you have try the Kowa made in Japan models, head and shoulders better then the Motion BLOW style. I posted about those here http://www.pitracer.com/threads/64233/
It use to be cheaper to order them direct from Japan but you can purchase the main set from Pro Circuit https://www.procircuit.com/kowa-7-piece-t-handle-set.html
 
NQ1965 said:
I also spent a fair amount of time hunting for a set of JIS driver bits for my hand impact tool. I had a lot more difficulty with that. There are plenty of offerings of JIS bits that are 1/4" shank, but the impact driver uses a 5/16"or 8mm shank bit. I'm always cautious buying internationally but I did find a set of three 5/16 JIS driver bits on ebay from a seller in France. I used Paypal for the transaction. Nobody stateside even offered them.
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I missed this part earlier. JDV is the American distributor for Vessel products. They stock JIS crosspoint, 8mm Hex drive impacting bits for $10. They are in NJ and you will receive them in a couple days.
https://www.vesseltools.com/industrial-bits/bit-sets/431801-detail

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Good to know. Will keep this info on hand for placing my next order.
I just received my order yesterday of the exact tips you have shown there. I knew somebody here in the states had to have access to them.
 
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