Patent ID: 8567082

Claim:
A method of monitoring wear of a slew bearing system comprising: (a) assembling a slew bearing system comprising: a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring concentrically positioned relative to each other forming at least upper and lower raceways, a plurality of bearing rollers positioned in each raceway between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring, and an index system having a first reference connected with the first bearing ring and positioned relative to a second reference on the second bearing ring to provide a measurable distance between the first reference and the second reference, where the measurable distance changes with wear of the slew bearing system, wherein the second reference is formed in, formed on, or projects from an outer surface of the second bearing ring such that the location of the measureable distance for monitoring wear is accessible from outside the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring; and (b) monitoring a change in the measurable distance between the first reference and the second reference to monitor wear of the slew bearing system.