From UJ Cross to Yokes: Breaking Down Propeller Shaft Parts
- Sargun Sethi
- Aug 18, 2025
- 5 min read
The Propeller Shaft: Backbone of Motion
Every moving machine, whether it is a long-haul truck cruising highways, a tractor powering its implements across fields, or a rotavator preparing soil for sowing, depends on one silent yet indispensable system—the propeller shaft assembly. Engines may generate power, but without the propeller shaft, that power would never reach the wheels or implements. This shaft is not a single part but a combination of multiple precision-engineered components, each contributing to strength, flexibility, and motion.
The primary job of a propeller shaft is to transmit torque over varying angles between the gearbox and the differential or between the power take-off (PTO) and the implement. To do this effectively, it must not only withstand the twisting forces of torque but also adjust for changes in alignment caused by suspension movement, terrain unevenness, or implement load. Unlike rigid mechanical connections, the propeller shaft is designed to allow flexibility while maintaining strength, ensuring uninterrupted operation in vehicles and machinery.
At MOD Spare Parts, we specialize in manufacturing and supplying the critical components that make propeller shafts reliable. From UJ Crosses and yokes to cross holders, bevel kits, triangular tubes, gear housings, and steering cross assemblies, MOD ensures every piece matches OEM-grade quality standards. These are not just spare parts—they are the unseen backbone of machines that farmers, drivers, and industries rely on daily.
UJ Cross – The Pivot of Flexibility
Among all propeller shaft parts, the Universal Joint Cross (UJ Cross) is often referred to as the “heart” of the driveline. Its role is simple yet vital: to connect two rotating shafts that are not in perfect alignment and to allow torque to pass smoothly between them. Without the UJ Cross, any misalignment—whether due to terrain in tractors or suspension movement in trucks—would cause the shafts to bind, leading to rapid failure.
The UJ Cross is a four-armed component that sits at the junction of the shafts, supported by needle roller bearings. It allows rotational freedom across angles, making it indispensable in vehicles and implements that encounter constant motion and load shifts. In tractors and rotavators, it ensures the PTO power flows seamlessly even on uneven farmland. In commercial vehicles like Tata or Leyland trucks, it allows the propeller shaft to transmit torque smoothly despite axle movements.
At MOD, we manufacture a wide range of UJ Crosses suited for different applications:
Grease type and grease-less UJ Crosses for commercial vehicles and tractors.
Specialized sizes like 35x106mm for JCB applications or 47.68x135.10mm for heavy trucks.
High-strength alloy steel (20MnCr5) construction, heat-treated for maximum durability.
Operators who rely on MOD UJ Crosses experience reduced downtime and longer service intervals. Unlike local substitutes that wear prematurely or fail under stress, MOD’s parts are tested for endurance in real-world Indian conditions. Whether it is the rugged fields of Punjab, the transport highways of Maharashtra, or the construction zones of South India, MOD UJ Crosses are trusted to keep machines moving.
Yokes, Cross Holders, and Their Essential Role
If the UJ Cross is the pivot, the yokes are the arms that hold it in place. Yokes connect the universal joint to the shaft, ensuring stability and controlled movement. They allow torque to pass through without interruption while giving the driveline the flexibility to handle misalignment. Yokes are available in many forms—spring yokes, half yokes, reverse yokes, shearing bolt yokes, and input/output yokes—each designed for a specific task within tractors, rotavators, or trucks.
For instance, in rotavators, shearing bolt yokes act as a protective fail-safe, deliberately breaking under extreme load to save the rest of the driveline. In trucks, half yokes connect shafts at varying lengths, while in tractors, reverse yokes help balance misalignment during field operations. Every design solves a problem, and every machine requires the right type of yoke to perform optimally.
Closely tied to the function of yokes are cross holders. These precision parts lock the UJ Cross securely within the yokes, keeping rotation balanced and stable. A poorly fitted cross holder can cause vibration, wear, and eventual driveline failure. For heavy-duty vehicles and implements, that could mean catastrophic downtime during critical operations.
At MOD, we offer a wide selection of yokes and cross holders engineered from high-grade steel, precision-machined to OEM standards, and tested for torque endurance. Products like the Spring Yoke 6-Teeth Inner Lock for Sonalika Rotavators or Cross Holder JCB (4-H) 35x106 are examples of how MOD caters to both agriculture and construction machinery. By investing in quality yokes and cross holders, operators ensure their machines run longer, smoother, and with fewer interruptions.
Other Critical Components: Bevel Kits, Tubes, and Gear Housing
The propeller shaft is more than just UJ Crosses and yokes—it is an assembly of multiple interdependent parts, each essential for the driveline’s strength.
Bevel Kits: These kits are used in agricultural implements and tractors to transfer rotational motion at an angle, critical for applications like rotavators. MOD bevel kits are designed for precise gear meshing, reducing noise and wear while ensuring efficient torque transfer.
Triangular Tubes and Pot Half Assemblies: In rotavators, triangular tubes form the PTO shaft structure, transmitting power safely to the implement. MOD manufactures Triangular Tube Sets in standard sizes like 14-inch for Shaktiman rotavators, along with half yokes and pot half assemblies to provide a complete solution.
Steering Cross Assemblies: In commercial vehicles and tractors, steering cross assemblies allow controlled motion in steering systems. At MOD, these are manufactured with the same OEM-level precision as driveline parts, ensuring safe and reliable handling.
Gear Housing Blocks and Side Gears: Essential in heavy-duty trucks and agricultural machines, these parts provide stability and torque distribution in the driveline. MOD’s gear housings are made from durable alloys to resist wear under high-load conditions.
Each of these components may seem small, but together they make the propeller shaft reliable. A failure in any one part—whether a worn bevel gear, cracked tube, or misaligned housing—can bring an entire machine to a halt. That is why MOD focuses not only on producing each component but also on ensuring that they integrate seamlessly when used together in assemblies.
Why MOD Spare Parts Leads in Propeller Shaft Components
In today’s demanding environment, machines cannot afford downtime. Farmers face narrow windows for sowing and harvesting, truckers operate under strict delivery deadlines, and construction projects require uninterrupted operation. A failed propeller shaft component in any of these situations is more than an inconvenience—it is a financial setback. That is where MOD Spare Parts delivers real value.
Our philosophy is simple: OEM-grade quality, engineered for Indian conditions. MOD’s propeller shaft components are made from certified alloys like 20MnCr5, processed through precision heat treatment, and machined on modern equipment to ensure exact fitment. Unlike local spares that compromise on tolerances or material strength, MOD products are tested for endurance, torque load, and wear resistance.
We offer a complete range of parts—UJ Crosses, yokes, cross holders, bevel kits, triangular tubes, pot half assemblies, RD axles, push pins, gear housing blocks, and steering cross assemblies—covering applications across tractors, rotavators, harvesters, trucks, buses, and construction equipment. Whether you operate a Tata Ace, Mahindra tractor, Sonalika rotavator, or a heavy BharatBenz truck, MOD has a component designed for your driveline.
By choosing MOD, customers don’t just buy spare parts—they invest in reliability, reduced downtime, and peace of mind. Every MOD component is a result of decades of expertise, quality control, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Indian farmers, drivers, and mechanics. When machines run on MOD, they run stronger, longer, and safer.
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