REPXPERT member, Eddie Nazarov, of Chapmans Auto Centre in Coventry, has become the first INA Torque Challenge Champion after demonstrating his skills at Automechanika Birmingham.

Schaeffler bearing specialist, Tim Adams, came up with the idea of a fun competition, but with a serious ‘best practice’ message, to remind technicians about the importance of using the correct tools and torque settings whilst replacing belt system components.

Tim commented, “If a tensioner stud is installed by guesswork, without using a torque wrench or accurate torque settings, a premature failure of the entire belt system becomes almost inevitable. We decided to demonstrate to technicians, in a simple and fun way, why a simple understanding of torque settings is really important. This knowledge will help them to save no end of trouble in the future, as well as time and money for both them and their customer.”

Tim and the team were concerned that technicians would think that they were being taught to ‘suck eggs’, but their fears proved unfounded. “I asked the same questions to everybody, from master technicians to senior technical trainers and college lecturers, and almost everyone was confused when it came to some aspects of torqueing, such as the effect of adding extension bars or angle joints.”

At the recent Automechanika event, after getting some hints and tips from Tim, visitors then had to tighten up five tensioners and pulleys using a standard wrench with a hidden torque adapter displaying the results. The best four performers on each morning and afternoon of the show took away a torque wrench, with Eddie winning the grand prize of a VIP DTM weekend for two.

Tim is now looking forward to taking his wife to London and enjoying a full-on VIP DTM experience at Brands Hatch, courtesy of Schaeffler and BMW from 10th - 11th August.