Airbox base screws

[ggavin]

Hey guys!

My bike has been running lean for a long time and I suspect that dirty carbs might be the reason. So I decided to strip them off and check them out for once! I must say those damn hoses connected to the tank are a bitch to get off , got several wounds from them.

Anyways the main problem is after I removed the airbox lid, I could not unscrew the 4 screws that keep the airbox base in place. They seem to be heavily lubricated and really soft, I was going at it for a good twenty minutes, luckily one came off but the others just won't budge and the heads are being damaged. Anyone have experience with these or any ideas how to get them off? Damn carbs, so close but so far...

Here are some pics for reference:

[willandrip]

A correct fitting screwdriver is the tool you require.
No doubt you will not have a JIS No. 3 bit but are messing on with a Philips or even worse Pozidrive.

Get a good Philips and grind down 2mm off the very tip.
Put a smear of grinding paste in the X head.

[Malc]

And as you turn it, give the screwdriver a tap with a soft mallet at the same time.

[speedy231278]

Get a Vessel branded crossheaded screwdriver. They aren't cheap, but comply with the old JIS spec and won't rip the screws to bits. I ended up having to replace several of these screws for the same reason.

Something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vessel-930-Sc ... 233e3448f5

Yes, the P+P is ridiculous!

[Neosophist]

Get a Vessel branded crossheaded screwdriver. They aren't cheap, but comply with the old JIS spec and won't rip the screws to bits. I ended up having to replace several of these screws for the same reason.

Something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vessel-930-Sc ... 233e3448f5

Yes, the P+P is ridiculous!

Those vessel screwdrivers are good made in Japan screwdrivers, there not expensive either.. probably about 6 pounds to buy in Japan for that style.. you can get their cheap plastic handle one for about 2 pounds.

Its not OLD spec, its current spec, just Japanese spec.

They are number 2 screws not number 3. The screwdriver in the toolkit if you have it will be ok too.

They are "lubricated" becuase the crankcase vents to the airbox spraying oil mist in there..

Use a proper screwdriver before you cause anymore damage, they are not overly tight and should coem out easy.

[speedy231278]

According to Vessel, JIS went out the window in 2008.

"Why VESSEL's screwdrivers are not labeled “JIS”?

As you might know, VESSEL is the oldest screwdriver manufacturer in Japan, and made a contribution to set a Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) standard.

We do follow JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) standard for cross point screwdrivers. Because the technology to manufacture screwdrivers in Japan had already become above a certain level, JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) recognition system for screwdrivers became extinct in 2008.

So there is no authorized JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) manufacturer now, and we therefore cannot print "JIS" mark on our screwdrivers."

[Neosophist]

I see what you mean.. I hadn't heard that before but it might be true, I don't have any problem buying JIS marked screwdrivers or screws though.

But my reply was based on your terminology, that was confusing.. Japan might have moved everything inline with ISO standards but that JIS spec is still the most current spec, even if it isnt used anymore.

In Japan there is something callled 旧JIS or "old JIS", this refers to screws from before aroudn 1968 I believe, certain bolts like M3/M5 and M12 had a different pitch to the rest of the world, like M5 was 0.9 instead of 0.8, which is why many old Hondas and what not new bolts wont fit.

That is what I thought when you mentioned Old JIS :)

You can see from your paste though that they still make the screwdrivers to JIS standard, just that with everything moving towards an ISO (international standard) they are not labelled as JIS, instead there is an ISO standard for it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/When-a- ... -Standard/

This is a nice simple read for anyone interested in JIS screws.

[pockets]

I've just bought a set of those Vessel screwdrivers from the USA, took three weeks to arrive but they are top quality and my little set included an impact screwdriver, I'd thoroughly recommend them to anybody with a Japanese bike, they'll also work on normal Phillips fasteners.

As willandrip mentioned, to get you out of the sh*t in the meantime, grind a couple of mm off a good Phillips screwdriver, or failing that, most Jap bike toolkits came with a JIS screwdriver as part of the kit, do you know of anybody with a Japanese bike that would lend you the screwdriver from their tool kit?