Patent ID: 8746100

Claim:
A gearbox assembly comprising: a pinion gear including a gear stem defining an axis, said gear stem extending axially from a gear portion to an opposite distal end and having a threaded portion adjacent said distal end; an output member including an output flange and a tubular output stem, said output flange including a recessed portion defining an inner circumference coaxial with said tubular output stem, wherein said gear stem extends axially through said tubular output stem and said inner circumference such that said threaded portion protrudes from said output flange and said inner circumference includes a plurality of spaced apart serrations disposed therearound and extending radially outwardly into said output flange; and a pinion nut including a center hub having a threaded inner bore and an outer rim spaced outwardly from and circumscribing said center hub forming a gap therebetween, said threaded inner bore threadably engaging said threaded portion of said gear stem retaining said output member to said pinion gear, said outer rim defining an outer circumference including at least one tool recess and at least one deformation spaced circumferentially apart from said at least one tool recess, wherein said at least one tool recess is adapted for receiving a tool to rotate said pinion nut in a first direction relative to said gear stem, and said at least one deformation extending radially into at least one of said serrations and engaging said inner circumference of said output flange selectively locking said pinion nut to said output flange and preventing said pinion nut from rotating in a second direction relative to said gear stem.