Shafts & U-Joints

Tree Cutter overrunning drive shaft with slip clutch and gearbox

A driveshaft is a cylindrical shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the wheels. They are most commonly found on rear-wheel drive vehicles and connect the rear of the transmission to the driveshaft.

In British English, the term "drive shaft" is restricted to a transverse shaft that transmits power to the wheels, especially the front wheels. A drive shaft connecting the gearbox to a rear differential is called a propeller shaft, or prop-shaft.

They can overcome problems of misalignment, absorb and isolate vibration, and simplify power transmission designs and applications. Elliott Flexible Shafts can easily withstand the shock of sudden load changes due to starting and stopping.

Universal joints allow drive shafts to move up and down with the suspension while the shaft is moving so power can be transmitted when the drive shaft isn't in a straight line between the transmission and drive wheels.

If the IID shaft is partly guarded, the shielding is usually over the straight part of the shaft, leaving the universal joints, the PTO connection (the front connector), and the Implement Input Connection (IIC, the rear connector) as the wrapping point hazards.