Busted brakes reservoir covers' screws

[Peter55]

So I busted the screws of the brake reservoir, and most likely will happen the clutch reservoir fluid as well if i try to unscrew its cover. I had a similar issue years back on my ex-ST1300. At that time I thought to drill the screws very carefully with a drill bit of a similar shape and almost the same size of the screws. I did that until I was able to pry the cover loose, and then luckily there was still a couple millimeters of screw left which I was able to unscrew with a needle nose pliers. I thought I was kind of lucky at that time.
I'm tempted to repeat the same procedure this time but I was wondering if anyone has a better solution. The fluid was last replaced by the dealer something like 8-10 years and 6K miles ago, but I don't think they used any anti seize lubricant on the screws apparently. I did spray some W-40 but did not help at all.
It is not an urgent thing to do but I'm still planning to try again in a week or two, so any suggestion which can be better than my previous method is welcome. I the meantime I ordered several new screws online. Thanks.

[hubcapsc]

Some kind of easy-out thing worked for me on my rear brake reservoir,
and its screws are much longer than the front brake and clutch reservoirs
(if that matters)...

Anywho... the screws aren't phillips as they seem, they are JIS
screws, and the screwdriver in the tool kit fits them. Or you can
find JIS screw drivers places...

https://www.amazon.com/Hozan-JIS-4-JIS-Screwdriver-3rd/dp/B00A7WAHTU/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jis+screwdriver&qid=1628460889&sr=8-2

-Mike

[Avanti]

I would stick with the method that you already have had success with!

[RonW]

if you ordered oem screws and have to do the clutch reservoir, you might as well buy the JIS screwdriver. Somebody suggested an impact screwdriver driver. It turns counter-clockwise with each tap of the handle. It's a wish list tool that I still haven't bought myself.

[98valk]

only one company still makes true JIS drivers. All the rest use the new std that works for SAE and JIS.
As of late ALL drivers are now made to the new std even the lower cost ones such as harbor freights which I have and work great for JIS screws.

There are the real JIS and the not-so-real JIS screwdrivers. Remember, JIS is a standard, so a screwdriver needs to be made to that exact standard to be considered authentically JIS.

Most JIS advertised screwdrivers sold today by companies like Vessel, Hozan, and others are actually conforming to a new standard: DIN 5260 which is identical (at the tip) to the newer ISO 8764-1.

The reason these companies have changed to DIN 5260/ISO 8764-1 is because the new standard is designed to work in both Phillips and JIS screws. For the most part that is true, it does work on both screw types, but like anything meant to work with multiple things, the middle ground means compromise. The JIS standard screwdriver will always outperform a DIN/ISO screw driver in the worst of conditions on a JIS screw, and the same is true in reverse.

To date, I have only been able to find one confirmed manufacturer that still uses and builds to JIS B 4633, and that is SUNFLAG otherwise known as New Turtle in Japan:

https://rtstools.com/jis-vs-phillips-screwdrivers-and-where-to-buy-a-jis-screwdriver/

[Peter55]

Thank you all for your help. I had no idea these weren't Phillips screws. They look the same to me. I assume that those OEM screws I just ordered from online from a Honda dealer I will be just the same then. I guess I'll have to buy JIS screwdriver then, just for that...

[..]

On my ST1300 I used a small flat bladed screwdriver to cut/chisel a groove into the sloping head of the covers screw.

I then used the same screwdriver at an angle and with gentle taps was able to get the cover screw to start undoing.

[hubcapsc]

Thank you all for your help. I had no idea these weren't Phillips screws. They look the same to me. I assume that those OEM screws I just ordered from online from a Honda dealer I will be just the same then. I guess I'll have to buy JIS screwdriver then, just for that...

You should have a JIS screwdriver, but they are really easy to come by.
Every "phillips" screwdriver in every Japanese motorcycle
tool-kit is JIS, so if your Valkyrie tool-kit is still there that's perfect. If you
go to the auto parts store and get a cheap screwdriver from the
checkout isle with a tray of bits, one of them will almost certainly
work great...





These screws have seen a lot of action with my good old
lefty-loosy screwdriver and its JIS bit over the last 15
years...



-Mike

[Bagger John - #3785]

There are several eBay vendors of "Made in Japan" JIS sets. I bought one of these several years ago. A lot of what I work on (apart from motorcycles too) uses JIS-spec fasteners. I'd guess that three specific JIS cross-point drivers now see 95% or more usage as compared to the rest of my screwdrivers.

[da prez]

Use a small blunt punch and tap, tap , tap. The screw should shake loose. Try with screwdriver and stop if excess resistance is felt. After removing , run a tap in the hole to remove corrosion.

       da prez

[RonW]

the price went up on the ebay JIS screwdrivers

[CoreyP]

if you ordered oem screws and have to do the clutch reservoir, you might as well buy the JIS screwdriver. Somebody suggested an impact screwdriver driver. It turns counter-clockwise with each tap of the handle. It's a wish list tool that I still haven't bought myself.

I have one of those for brake rotor screws. I have never tried that tool on a smaller screw, not sure how well it would work. ??? I really can't think of when I used it for anything else?

[Chrisj CMA]

if you ordered oem screws and have to do the clutch reservoir, you might as well buy the JIS screwdriver. Somebody suggested an impact screwdriver driver. It turns counter-clockwise with each tap of the handle. It's a wish list tool that I still haven't bought myself.

I have one of those for brake rotor screws. I have never tried that tool on a smaller screw, not sure how well it would work. ??? I really can't think of when I used it for anything else?

Yikes!  I wouldn’t let that jack hammer anywhere near my wheels. I can’t think of a fastener on the Bike that should need such overkill. For brake rotor screws just use a breaker bar. They are not that tight

[Bagger John - #3785]

Yikes!  I wouldn’t let that jack hammer anywhere near my wheels. I can’t think of a fastener on the Bike that should need such overkill. For brake rotor screws just use a breaker bar. They are not that tight

+1

They're retained by the equivalent of our blue Loc-Tite (not sure of the Japanese formula designator for non-permanent mixture). Gently heating the bolts with a heat gun should be all that's needed in the way of additional persuasion past the use of the breaker bar.

[CoreyP]

if you ordered oem screws and have to do the clutch reservoir, you might as well buy the JIS screwdriver. Somebody suggested an impact screwdriver driver. It turns counter-clockwise with each tap of the handle. It's a wish list tool that I still haven't bought myself.

I have one of those for brake rotor screws. I have never tried that tool on a smaller screw, not sure how well it would work. ??? I really can't think of when I used it for anything else?

Yikes!  I wouldn’t let that jack hammer anywhere near my wheels. I can’t think of a fastener on the Bike that should need such overkill. For brake rotor screws just use a breaker bar. They are not that tight

Sorry I meant for a car or truck not a bike. I would never use that on a bike for anything.

[ridingron]

I have used the manual impact driver numerous times on the master cylinder screws. I use a 3 pound mini sledge hammer and just TAP it. Whaling away at it will only screw it up. (a pun?)

[Bighead]

When you get those out take the screw to a fasten-all type place and tell the you want the same thread and pitch and length screw with an allen head. I did this several years ago.  Got 12 total (3 bikes) for $1. Guess what never slipped again.

[Peter55]

I found the JIS screwdriver in Valkyrie tool pouch. I never used it before because I thought it was a regular Phillips screwdrivers and I have many with a better handle than the slide-in thin one that come with the bike. I still had to drill one screw because I totally busted, but all other screws came out very easy with the JIS screwdriver. Unfortunately I had to pay a little price for my ignorance of now knowing the difference between Phillips and JIS screwdrivers, but sometime this is what it takes. Now I know. Thank you all for your support. 

[..]

When you get those out take the screw to a fasten-all type place and tell the you want the same thread and pitch and length screw with an allen head. I did this several years ago.  Got 12 total (3 bikes) for $1. Guess what never slipped again.

I was just going to post allen head as a replacement. 

Reminds me to switch out the cover screws on my new V1800.

[Valker]

Save the headaches and just get or use the JIS