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

A system for use in securing a lock nut to a shaft, comprising:

• a keeper having keeper teeth engageable with a lock nut to inhibit movement of said keeper relative to said nut;
• said keeper having a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft to inhibit rotational movement of said nut relative to the shaft when keeper engages said nut and said radially inner side engages the shaft;
• and
• a keeper retaining member secured to said keeper, said retaining member having engaging teeth engageable with said nut to hold said keeper axially such that said keeper is engaged with said nut;
• a cover member located on an opposite side of said keeper retaining member relative to said keeper teeth and said engaging teeth and engaged to said keeper retaining member to inhibit a separation of said cover member from said retaining member and such that the separation of said cover member from said retaining member provides a visual indication to a user.

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

• engaging a lock nut on a shaft at a desired preload of a bearing mounted on the shaft;
• engaging a keeper with the nut to inhibit movement of the keeper relative to the nut;
• engaging a radially inner side of the keeper with the shaft to inhibit rotational movement of the nut relative to the shaft;
• engaging a retaining member connected to the keeper with the nut to hold the keeper axially such that the keeper is engaged with the nut;
• and
• locating a cover member on an opposite side of the keeper retaining member relative to the nut and engaging the cover member to the keeper retaining member to inhibit a separation of the cover member from the retaining member such that the separation of the cover member from the retaining member provides a visual indication to a user.

A lock nut system comprising:

• a nut;
• a keeper engageable with said nut to inhibit movement of said keeper relative to said nut;
• said keeper having a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft to inhibit rotational movement of said nut relative to the shaft when said keeper engages said nut and said radially inner side engages the shaft;
• and
• a keeper retaining member secured to said keeper, said retaining member engageable with said nut to hold said keeper axially such that said keeper is engaged with said nut;
• a cover member positionable on an opposite side of said keeper retaining member relative to said nut and engaged to said keeper retaining member to inhibit a separation of said cover member from said keeper retaining member and such that the separation of said cover member from said keeper retaining member provides a visual indication to a user.