If you do any work at all on Honda motorcycles, you really need a set of JIS screwdrivers.
JIS - or Japanese Industry Standard - is a Pacific Rim standard used for "Philips" (cross) type screwdrivers. Most people, professional mechanics included, don't even know that such a thing exists. But every "Philips" screw on a Japanese vehicle is not a Philips screw at all, but a JIS screw. They can be identified with a small dot on the top of the screw:
Philips screwdrivers don't fit JIS screws, at least not properly. Because they don't fit all the way into the screw, you tend to mangle the screw when attempting to tighten it, or loosen a tight one. If you have any "Philips" screws on your Goldwing that are stripped or mangled, this is what has happened. The solution? A set of JIS screwdrivers.
The first time you use a JIS screwdriver, you'll realize what you've been missing. It fits solidly into the screw, and turns it securely, without "camming out" like a Philips driver does. No mangling of the screw, no difficulty loosening or tightening fasteners. Philips screwdrivers were actually designed to cam out of the screw, to prevent over tightening. On soft JIS screws, this just destroys the screw head.
I have had a set of Hozan JIS screwdrivers for a year or so now, and they have worked well. They are a decent quality screwdriver, but the handles are hard plastic, and the shafts are rather narrow. My wife bought me a set of Vessel JIS screwdrivers for Christmas:
These are some high-quality screwdrivers. The handles are soft and large for easy gripping. The shafts have knurled sections at the top right under the handles, to allow you to grip them and spin them quickly for faster screw insertion and removal. The bits are magnetic. They are really just a joy to use. My Hozan's have fallen by the wayside, and may be retired to "carry in the saddle bag" tool duty. This set came with some JIS and some flat blade screwdrivers. The tips are hard steel, and are precision ground to fit perfectly into screws - even the flat blade drivers fit very precisely into slotted screws.
Also included is a JIS impact screwdriver - a very special driver that is intended to break free stuck screws. You put the screwdriver into the screw head, then strike the end with a hammer. While being forced into the screw head, it rotates the tip counterclockwise, forcing the screw to break free. I had one of these before, but never a JIS one.
If I have any complaint at all, it is that the handles all look alike - it is tough to tell the flat blade drivers from the JIS drivers. I may take a marker and mark up the ends of the flat blades to make them easier to identify.
This set was purchased directly from Amazon. It is of the highest quality and I highly recommend it.
Find This Item on Amazon:
