My screws for draining the float bowls on the carbs are a bit ugly, so I went to order OEM replacements. The problem is, the ones I received are different from the ones currently on my bike. I've looked around, and I can't find an explanation as to why. I did notice that most vendors have two screws listed on the parts fiche. The ones I ordered are 13247-02340, so I'm wondering if the other part (13247-28A00) are the screws with the hex shape to them.

The type currently on my carbs.

(Photo shamelessly stolen from ben2go's thread on carbs because I'm too lazy to take my own picture.)

The type I received from the vendor.


Was each style used for certain years or something? There's no picture for the 28A00 part, so I'm not 100% that will get me the ones I want. Does anyone happen to know?  The only reason I was able to get mine out in the first place is because they have the hex shape outside so I could use a socket; the JIS screw portion is stripped to hell. Now I'm afraid the round ones might strip and get stuck some day. 

Thanks!

P.S. I tried desperately to search on this forum and elsewhere, and I couldn't come up with an answer. Dreadfully sorry if I've missed it somewhere!

Yeah, since I got the screws with the hex head I wouldn't want to go back to the old style.  I feel much more secure using a socket to open the drains.

When I do use a screwdriver to open the drains I use a JIS screwdriver and it doesn't strip.  In fact it engages solidly with the screw.  It's the tapered shape of the Phillips drivers that cause all the terrible chowdering.

Get the new style and/or get a JIS screwdriver.

Partzilla has a customer service phone number you can call.  I called them once and they were very helpful.

QuoteI feel much more secure using a socket to open the drains.

Me too! I've had the replacements sitting around for days, and only just realized that they aren't hex like the originals, so I'm hesitant to put them in haha.

QuoteGet the new style and/or get a JIS screwdriver.

That's the thing. I guess I'm not sure if the "new" style is specific to certain years within the gs500 models or what (also there's a seperate fiche for gs500e and gs500et for most years... which is lost on me), and of course there's no picture for the other screws listed in the parts fiche. I've been looking for a couple JIS screwdrivers, but I read that it's difficult to find authentic ones at this point. Some folks were reporting that they had better fit from a sanded-down Phillips bit than one sold as "JIS." If you have any recommendations on picking up some drivers/bits, I'd love to hear (seeing as how I don't have the means to sand bits myself).

I probably will end up calling and harassing the folks at Partzilla about the specifics of the screws if nothing else. Thanks for your input!

Edit: Been meaning to update this on the off-chance that some future person has a similar question. I went ahead and ordered the part, and it turn out to be the right one.