Terry500
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Here's a link to two ST300 Owner's Manuals. Not the same as a service manual but included with bikes on original sale and would have answered your question. There may be other helpful information for you.I noticed the small knob in the attached photo. May someone please tell me what it controls?
I just use the one in the tool kit for all the phillips on the bike.Thanks Gui, I see it on page 113 of the manual you sent. Noted on the Japanese size bit. Thanks again.
That’s probably a good thing, as there are no Phillips screws on your Japanese bikeI just use the one in the tool kit for all the phillips on the bike.
I used a philips screwdriver on these up until a few months ago when I learned what a JIS was. Luckily there are not many on the ST and I was always able to get the air snorkels out of the airbox without destroying one with a philips screwdriver.That’s probably a good thing, as there are no Phillips screws on your Japanese bike![]()
I have a couple of sets of JIS screwdrivers but before I got them I used Phillips screwdrivers for years and have never had a problem. In my experience, the difference comes when a poor quality Phillips screwdriver is being used versus a good quality Phillips screw driver like a Snap-On or a MAC. Having written that, I will also write that JIS screwdrivers are readily available and not that expensive, so there really isn't a good reason not to use the proper driver and simply avoid any potential headaches.I used a philips screwdriver on these up until a few months ago when I learned what a JIS was. Luckily there are not many on the ST and I was always able to get the air snorkels out of the airbox without destroying one with a philips screwdriver.
In the useless information department, I think that the proper name for this type of screw head is a cross recessed screw. This type of screw can be the American Phillips standard or the Japanese JIS standard. Just as we have come to refer to the American version simply as a Phillips screw, the most commonly used name for the Japanese version, in North America at least, seems to simply be JIS screw.I will refer them as japhilips for now on.
Did you miss where I wrote;Even though some people have gotten away using snap on, Mac, matco, etc. does not mean it’s the correct tool for the job.
Having written that, I will also write that JIS screwdrivers are readily available and not that expensive, so there really isn't a good reason not to use the proper driver ......
I find it terribly distressing that it wasn't until just a few years ago that I learned that the screws on my various Japanese products over the years where indeed something other than a Philips screw, best attacked with a Philips screwdriver.Having written that, I will also write that JIS screwdrivers are readily available and not that expensive, so there really isn't a good reason not to use the proper driver and simply avoid any potential headaches.
Have a look at the below. If you are considering the Vessel Megadora because of it being slimmer and lighter than a true impact driver I think that this is a better option. One impact driver handle can be used with multiple size JIS screw sizes as opposed to one for each size with the Vessel. The bits can also be used in any 1/4" driver, making them more versatile as well.On that note... may I suggest that when buying your first JIS drivers you consider specifically the Vessel Impacta line?