A connecting rod including a shaft, a link attached to the shaft, and a number of threaded fasteners for attaching the link to the shaft. The shaft has a major flange affixed to one of its opposed ends that can be attached to a bearing housing. A minor flange is affixed to the other of the opposed ends of the shaft and has a cylindrical concavity in its top. The minor flange has a shoulder portion and a pair of arm portions that radiate outwardly and upwardly from the shoulder portion. A link has a ring that is snugly, yet releasably, positioned within the cylindrical concavity.