Systems and methods for preloading a bearing and aligning a lock nut

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the apparatus comprising:

• an attaching member releasably connectable to a circumferential outside surface of an exposed end of a threaded shaft;
• a press mechanism coupled to said attaching member, said press mechanism configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing;
• and
• wherein a proximal direction extends toward the press mechanism from the attaching member, and a distal direction is opposite from the proximal direction and extends toward the attaching member from the press mechanism;
• said press mechanism having arms extendable in the distal direction past the attaching member to directly contact the bearing to apply the compressive load;
• said press mechanism comprising a wrench movable by the press mechanism toward a lock nut on the shaft in the distal direction such that the wrench engages the nut, and
• said press mechanism configured to rotate the nut by causing a rotation of said wrench when said wrench engages said lock nut when said attaching member is connected to the shaft.