That isn't a Phillips screw, its a JIS screw or cross point screw. Also used on other Japanese equipment.

Bought my first Japanese motorcycle in 1972 and have owned one for about 43 of the last 48 years and didn't know it. I have noticed the fit didn't seem perfect, but didn't know why.

They are designed to not cam out, which I'm pretty sure a Phillips is. By cam out, Phillips is designed for rapid assembly before torque limited screwdrivers for assembly line work. With a power screwdriver with Phillips, you just lower the pressure to stop rotation and the bit slips in the screw.

http://jisscrewdriver.com/

Not sure your point? If you work on Japanese stuff regularly you need jis screwdrivers for the best outcome. Fortunately today it’s not so hard to get them. A long time ago I got my first set with a phone call to Japan that a friend of mine who spoke Japanese had to act as a translator. It took several months and I thought all was lost but eventually the set arrived with a zillion pieces of import paperwork etc. still have them and they work fine. Today amazon makes it easy.

Yup, a good set of JIS screwdrivers is pretty much a requirement to work on a LOT of stuff these days, not just motorcycles.

Thanks, pbslinger! It's barely daylight, and I've already learned something today.

This reminded me - I used to have a couple Reed/Prince screwdrivers in my box. Never found a screw they actually fit. Mostly just tried to use them on regular Phillips screws.

Reed & Prince screwdrivers aren't that common.

Reed & Prince screws are what is at most hardware kits because they don't have to pay Phillips Screw Co. for their design.

I have made millions of phillips screwdrivers and never heard of them. R&P screws are used in the mobile home industry.

Oh, boy! Yet another set of drivers to buy.
I think the world needs a new drive design; these are getting old.
Wikipedia: List of screw drives

I learned something new.

Are the JIS screwdrivers similar to Pozi-Drive?

OK here’s sort of an answer:

quote:

Japanese Industrial Standard has slightly different angles in each of the two axii of all four blades. Posidrive are easily identifiable by the four secondary hash marks between the flutes on the screw head. The JIS MAY, or MAY NOT have a single dot between two of the flutes. Refer to the country of origin and the thread size. If it's metric, asian or european, less than 30 years old, it'll be JIS. I work on Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, British, Swiss machinery daily.

Cyclegear/Revzilla sell JIS hex bits. I have found them to work well.