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

A system for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the system comprising:

• a setting gage received on a shaft and engaging a nut on the shaft;
• said gage comprising an inner portion and an outer portion movable relative to each other;
• said inner portion having an inner opening receiving said shaft, said opening having an inner circumference shaped to inhibit movement between said inner portion and said shaft;
• said outer portion having an outer circumference comprising at least one radially projecting member engaging said nut to inhibit movement between said outer portion and said nut, said outer portion having a marker for alignment with said inner portion;
• said inner portion comprising a start position indicator and a stop position indicator, said marker aligned with said start position indicator in a first position of said nut and outer portion relative to said inner portion, said marker aligned with said stop position indicator in a second position of said nut and outer portion relative to said inner portion, said nut providing a greater endplay of a bearing mounted to the shaft in said second position relative to said first position.

A method for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

• receiving a setting gage on a shaft and engaging a nut on the shaft;
• the gage comprising an inner portion and an outer portion movable relative to each other;
• inhibiting movement between the inner portion and the shaft;
• at least one radially projecting member of an outer circumference of the outer portion engaging the nut to inhibit movement between the outer portion and the nut;
• the inner portion comprising a start position indicator and a stop position indicator;
• aligning a marker of the outer portion with the start position indicator when receiving the gage on the shaft;
• and
• moving said nut and said outer portion until said marker is aligned with said stop position indicator to provide a desired endplay by the nut of a bearing mounted to the shaft.

A method for determining a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft, the method comprising:

• receiving a setting gage on a shaft and engaging a nut on the shaft;
• the gage comprising an inner portion and an outer portion movable relative to each other;
• inhibiting movement between the inner portion and the shaft;
• at least one radially projecting member of an outer circumference of the outer portion engaging the nut to inhibit movement between the outer portion and the nut;
• the inner portion comprising a plurality of divisions, the divisions substantially equally spaced along the inner portion;
• aligning a marker of the outer portion with a first division of the plurality of divisions when receiving the gage on the shaft;
• moving the nut and the outer portion until the marker is aligned with a second division of the plurality of divisions;
• measuring the endplay of the bearing using a measurement device coupled to the bearing resulting in an actual measurement;
• comparing a position of the first division to a position of the second division along the inner portion to determine a calculated difference in endplay achieved from the movement of the nut and the outer portion from the first division to the second division;
• and
• comparing the calculated difference to the actual measurement to determine an endplay of the bearing prior to the movement of the nut and the outer portion.