An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An aligning ring has an aligning projection configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The projection extends radially inwardly from a circumferential portion of the aligning ring. The aligning ring extends circumferentially around the attaching member and is rotatable relative to the attaching member. The aligning ring includes a plurality of ring indicating markings to allow an alignment of a ring indicating marking of the plurality of ring indicating markings with a lock nut connected to the shaft.

A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.

A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An aligning ring has an aligning projection configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The projection extends radially inwardly from a circumferential portion of the aligning ring. The aligning ring extends circumferentially around the attaching member and is rotatable relative to the attaching member. The aligning ring includes a plurality of ring indicating markings to allow an alignment of a ring indicating marking of the plurality of ring indicating markings with a lock nut connected to the shaft.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An aligning ring has an aligning projection configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The projection extends radially inwardly from a circumferential portion of the aligning ring. The aligning ring extends circumferentially around the attaching member and is rotatable relative to the attaching member. The aligning ring includes a plurality of ring indicating markings to allow an alignment of a ring indicating marking of the plurality of ring indicating markings with a lock nut connected to the shaft.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.