APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Nord-Lock secures Ginaf trucks in the Dakar

The world’s most legendary and demanding rally, Dakar, took place in South America in January 2011. The race crosses Chile and Argentina, covering the most varying terrain imaginable. In order to understand how challenging the competition is, one must realise that even reaching the finishing line is a vast accomplishment.

T

eams compete for 15 days, which puts an enormous strain on both the team as well as the equipment. Ginaf Rally Power competed with two trucks in the 2011 edition of Dakar. Almost every component on the vehicles was

especially built or reinforced. Not many standard parts can match these requirements. Since Nord-Lock Benelux B.V. first met Ginaf the relationship has not only developed into a sponsorship but also improvements of bolted connections on the Ginaf trucks. With Nord-Lock products, the Ginaf team had the competitive

advantage of not having to check or retighten critical bolted connections at night. This shortens the everyday maintenance routines and allowed for more sleep for the team.

A selection of Nord-Lock applications on the Ginaf trucks

Chassis mount In between race stages the team serviced and fixed any

failures or damages that the vehicle had suffered. Time was short and not having to check bolt connections allowed the team more time to focus on other essential parts. In addition, mountings to the chassis are particularly hard to reach. On the Ginaf chassis, Nord-Lock secures:

• Steering box mounting. • Engine mountings. • Bearing blocks. • Differential box front and rear chassis mounting.

• Drive shaft bracket. • Cross chassis beam.

Drive shaft The drive shaft of a truck is exposed to high dynamic loads

and vibrations when driving across rough terrain. Broken and lose bolts is a common consequence if the bolts are not secured. Ginaf use Nord-Lock washers to secure the bolted connections on their drive shafts and thereby make them more reliable.

Drive shaft connection

Wheel nuts During the race, flat tires are common and then the entire wheel needs to be exchanged. Nord-Lock wheel nuts are reusable, re-mounting is quick, and even under stress the wedge-locking function is ensured and prevents the nut from rotating loose.

Steering box mounted to the chassis

118 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 68 March 2011

Nord-Lock on the inner rim of the wheel