If the question is about a clevis hanger specifically, the answer is well-documented: a clevis hanger is built from two clevises — a standard U-shaped clevis and a V-shaped clevis, joined by a pin. But “clevis” as a whole isn’t a two-type category — it’s a family of four recognized fastener types, and “two types” almost always means someone is describing one specific member of that family, not the whole family.
Where “Two Types” Actually Comes From
Two independent sources — igus’s Engineer’s Toolbox and TFG USA’s clevis fastener guide — describe a clevis hanger’s construction in nearly identical terms: it pairs a U-shaped clevis with a V-shaped clevis, with the V-shaped one holding the flattened base that a threaded support rod screws into. That’s a real, checkable “two types” fact — it’s just scoped to clevis hangers (the pipe-suspension type), not to clevises in general.
That distinction matters because a few other “two types” answers show up in AI-generated summaries of this question, and they’re each answering a narrower or different question than the one asked:
- “Threaded and unthreaded” — this is a real two-way split, but it describes clevis pins, not the clevis body itself. Wikipedia’s clevis fastener entry states it plainly: “There are two main types of clevis pins: threaded and unthreaded.” If you’re asking about the pin rather than the U-shaped body, this is the right answer — see the last section below.
- “Fixed and adjustable” — this framing shows up in some AI answers, but we couldn’t independently verify it in the source pages they cited. Treat it as unconfirmed rather than a second correct answer.
The Actual Clevis Family Has Four Types
If the question is really “how many kinds of clevis fastener are there,” the more complete and accurate answer — sourced independently from both igus and TFG USA — is four:
| Type | Structure | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Shackle | Classic U-shaped body, tang, and clevis pin — the “standard” clevis | General pivoting connections, towing, farm equipment |
| Bracket | Rectangular rather than U-shaped, with bolt/screw holes | Mounting rods to flat surfaces in vehicles and aircraft |
| Clevis hanger | Two clevises — U-shaped and V-shaped — joined by a pin | Suspending pipe from an overhead support |
| Clevis rod end (yoke end) | U-shaped hook with a threaded or unthreaded hole at the base | Connecting directly to a rod, actuator, or hydraulic cylinder |
For the full breakdown of these four types and how a clevis is built in general, see What Is a Clevis?.
If You Actually Meant Clevis Pins
Separate from the clevis body’s type, the pin that goes through it comes in two forms: an unthreaded pin, with a domed head and a cross-hole for a cotter pin or split pin at the other end, and a threaded pin, with a partially threaded shank and a formed head that acts as a stop when it’s screwed into the clevis. This is the “two types” answer if the question was really about the fastening hardware, not the U-shaped body.
Where SYZ Fits
The clevis rod end — the fourth type in the table above — is the one most relevant to precision linkage and hydraulic applications. SYZ Machine covers where that type fits against alternatives: Clevis Rod Ends: Best Applications for Industrial and Hydraulic Linkages and Rod End vs. Clevis Yoke vs. Weld-On Socket.
Related reading: What Is a Clevis? · What Is the Difference Between Clevis and Shackle? · Clevis Rod Ends: Best Applications for Industrial and Hydraulic Linkages · Rod End vs. Clevis Yoke vs. Weld-On Socket
