Propeller shaft tube yoke having a welded joint

A drive shaft assembly comprising:

• a cylindrical shaft tube having an end seating surface formed at an end thereof;
• a tube yoke end fitting coupled to the shaft tube at an interface and including a cylindrical first portion having a substantially uniform outer diameter and a second portion formed by a pair of ears, a first end of the first portion having an end seating surface abutting the end seating surface of the shaft tube at the interface, wherein the first portion of the tube yoke end fitting and the shaft tube do not overlap each other with respect to an axial direction of the drive shaft assembly, a second end of the first portion having the pair of ears extending outwardly therefrom, the tube yoke end fitting having an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the shaft tube, each of the pair of ears having an aperture formed therethrough, wherein a ratio of a yoke length of the tube yoke end fitting measured from a center of the apertures to the interface to an ear span of the tube yoke end fitting measured between outer surfaces of the pair of ears is at least 0.7;
• and
• a balance weight coupled to the first portion of the tube yoke end fitting.