Lovejoy NB10 Needle Bearing Universal Joint Solid Bore.

Lovejoy 68514415607 NB10 Needle Bearing Universal Joint, Solid Bore, 1.50″ Outer Diameter, 4.25″ Overall Length.

Lovejoy NB10 needle bearing universal joint with a solid bore, built for smooth torque transfer where standard plain-bearing U-joints wear too fast. Needle bearings cut friction and extend service life in higher-cycle industrial and agricultural drivelines.

The Lovejoy NB10 swaps the plain bushings found in economy U-joints for needle bearings at every trunnion, which is the difference that matters on shafts that run long hours or carry shock loads. It’s a straight bolt-in replacement for worn NB-series joints, and the solid bore version suits applications where a keyway isn’t part of the original spec.

Dimensional Data

Performance Data

Lovejoy NB10 Needle Bearing Universal Joint Solid Bore

This Lovejoy carbon steel single pin-and-block universal joint with solid hubs is designed to connect two rotating shafts at angles up to 25 degrees. This universal joint compensates for angular misalignments and has a single joint configuration for high torsional stiffness and torque capacity.

The hubs, center block, and pins are made of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1144 carbon steel for strength and durability, and the solid hubs have centering holes for custom machining.

The needle bearing design allows up to 6,000 RPM for applications with continuous high rotational speeds. Operating temperatures range from -30 to 212 degrees F. For optimal wear and extended life, boots (sold separately) are recommended, and boot retaining grooves are standard on this design.

This universal joint provides a uniform speed ratio between driving and driven shafts, and is suitable for applications requiring moderate torque transmission, such as compressors, fans, machine tools, printing presses, and textile machinery.

Universal joints (also called U-joints, universal couplings, Cardan joints, Hooke’s joints, or Hardy-Spicer joints) are used to transmit motion and rotational power, or torque, between two shafts that are offset at an angle.

Most universal joints consist of two yokes and a middle assembly; the hub end of each yoke attaches to a shaft while the yoke ears attach to and pivot around the middle assembly to accommodate shaft misalignment.

The type of middle assembly determines its usage—pin and block joints are suitable for transmitting high torque, needle bearing joints are used to handle high rotational speeds, and ball and socket joints are used in applications requiring low backlash (play between moving parts).

The body of the universal joint may include a single joint to accommodate only angular misalignments between shafts, or two joints to accommodate both angular and parallel misalignments.

Available in a variety of materials and configurations, universal joints are used in applications including motor vehicles, conveyors, medical and optical devices, forestry and mining equipment, robotics and space exploration, and aeronautics, among others.

Lovejoy manufactures flexible couplings, universal joints, variable speed drives, and other transmission and mechanical power products. The company, founded in 1900, is headquartered in Downers Grove, IL.

Who This Fits

Buyers replacing a failed or worn NB-series joint on ag equipment, conveyors, or light industrial drivelines who want longer life than a plain-bearing joint delivers. Also fits anyone upgrading a driveline that sees frequent starts/stops or reversing loads, since needle bearings handle that duty cycle better than bushings.

What to Check Before Buying

Confirm bore diameter and overall joint dimensions against the unit you’re replacing — NB-series sizing isn’t interchangeable across bore steps. If your application needs a keyway for positive drive, check whether a keyed NB10 variant is required instead of this solid-bore version.

Lovejoy, a Timken company, has manufactured couplings and universal joints for industrial power transmission since 1907, and its components are used worldwide across agricultural, industrial, and heavy-duty driveline applications.

See more options in our Industrial Power Transmission Couplings guide.