a little screw help please

[zoomjay]

Question slightly off topic although figured that several of you here would be able to answer the question.  I Have a 1990 Venture Royale I am working on (I know, not a FJ but still a Yammy)....  and while working on the carbs, on the top I find that each of the carbs has one of these screws (hopefully the picture is clear enough).  Two questions:

a)  what are they?  The looks like a torx screw with an attitude/bump.

b)  Is there a tool I can buy that will easily enable me to get them off???


I know why they are there - since these carbs still off to the side of the bike they are there to prevent anybody from accidentally taking the carbs apart....  they are, though, a pain in my arse right now.

thanks

[FJ1100mjk]

Question slightly off topic although figured that several of you here would be able to answer the question.  I Have a 1990 Venture Royale I am working on (I know, not a FJ but still a Yammy)....  and while working on the carbs, on the top I find that each of the carbs has one of these screws (hopefully the picture is clear enough).  Two questions:

a)  what are they?  The looks like a torx screw with an attitude/bump.

b)  Is there a tool I can buy that will easily enable me to get them off???


I know why they are there - since these carbs still off to the side of the bike they are there to prevent anybody from accidentally taking the carbs apart....  they are, though, a pain in my arse right now.

thanks

They're tamper-proof Torx screws. You'll need a tool like this, or similar to remove them.

[zoomjay]

yep, that is it... thank you.  Seems strange to have them....  oh well, who am I to question..

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks Marty, I've learned something today

[FJmonkey]

If the center post is small enough you can break it off with a sideways hit with small punch, then a standard Torxs bit will work. Buying a tool you need once in a lifetime seems like a waste. Unless it is really needed.

[Mike 86 in San Dimas]

might be able to grab the head of the screw with needle nose vice grip and twist it off

[red]

Zoomjay,

Yep, as FJ1100mjk said above, they are security Torx heads.  It's certainly a good idea to have a set of those Apex-style Torx bits in your bit-box.  Alternately, as Mike said, you can probably extract them by grabbing the heads with small vice-grips or similar.  Once you do that, I would recommend a search for Allen head screws for the re-assembly.

www.anywho.com is the Internet phone book.  The business listings have a separate heading for Nuts-and-Bolts, and a ZIP code there will get you all of the local businesses that have a good selection.  Hobby shops may also be helpful.

Cheers,
Red

[rlucas]

...local businesses that have a good selection.  Hobby shops may also be helpful.

Harbor Freight sells a complete set for $9.99 - http://www.harborfreight.com/100-pc-security-bit-set-with-case-68457.html