Lock nuts

Lock nuts are used to locate bearings onto a shaft. Additionally, they can be used to mount bearings with a tapered bore onto tapered shaft seats and adapter sleeves, and to dismount bearings from withdrawal sleeves. Lock nuts are also frequently used to secure gears, belt pulleys and other machine components.

Lock nuts have to be secured to prevent unintentional loosening by:

a locking device that engages a keyway in the shaft or key slot in the adapter sleeve, or

a locking mechanism integrated in the nut

When choosing or replacing a lock nut, there are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration. They include, but are not limited to:

Space – axial and radial

Shaft rotation – one or both directions

Axial loads

Dynamic behaviour of the application

Cost and downtime of machining keyways in shafts vs. other locking methods

Ease and frequency of assembly and disassembly

Precision

Designs and variants

SKF lock nuts provide a variety of ways to secure the nut onto a shaft. The lock nuts listed here constitute the basic SKF assortment. Lock nuts with other locking methods can be supplied on request. For additional information, contact SKF.

SKF industrial lock nuts (table 1)

Lock nuts requiring a keyway

KM, KML, HM .. T metric lock nuts retained with a lock washer

HM(E) metric lock nuts retained with a locking clip

N and AN inch design lock nuts retained with lock washers

N inch lock nuts retained with a locking plate

Lock nuts with integral locking

KMFE metric lock nuts with a locking screw

KMK metric lock nuts with an integral locking device

SKF precision lock nuts (table 2)

KMT and KMTA precision lock nuts with locking pins

KMD precision lock nuts with axial locking screws

Lock nuts with integral locking reduce the cost of the shaft as no keyway is required. Installation is quicker and easier because no separate locking device is necessary. However, the loosening torque of these lock nuts requires more attention. For information on loosening torque, refer to the product data sections for the various lock nut series.

SKF industrial lock nuts

SKF precision lock nuts

Adapter sleeve – Tool and accessory selector

Adapter sleeve – Tool and accessory selector

The SKF Adapter sleeve – Tool and accessory selector is used to select the correct tools and accessories when mounting SKF spherical roller and CARB toroidal roller bearings on adapter sleeves.