Abstract: Embodiments relate to an off-road vehicle comprising a frame, including at a frame, a passenger compartment, a driveline that includes at least a drive system and a driven system, and a constant velocity (CV) joint for coupling the driven system to the drive system. The CV joint includes a housing, a coupling shaft, a detent, a plunge pin and an actuation pin, wherein the actuation pin has a first end that is accessible via an aperture in the housing, wherein actuation of the actuation pin determines whether the plunge pin is in the first position or the second position.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an off-road vehicle comprising a frame, including at least one cargo box support member, a suspension movably coupled to the frame, a passenger compartment, an engine, a transmission operatively coupled to the engine, and a cargo box. The cargo box includes a floor and a plurality of upwardly extending sidewalls, wherein at least a portion of the cargo box floor extends over the at least one cargo box support member and wherein the cargo box is removably coupled to the at least one cargo box support members and is removable from the off-road vehicle via the removal of fewer than eight fasteners.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a frame, a front suspension, and a rear suspension. In some examples of the off-road vehicle, the rear suspension includes trailing arms with are pivotally attached to the frame rearward of an operator area. Further, the frame can include a front subframe assembly and a rear subframe assembly which are easily removable from the main frame of the vehicle to permit access to various components of the off-road vehicle.

Abstract: An exhaust valve includes a toroidal surface about an axis of rotation of the valve. The toroidal surface is positionable over a central exhaust port of an engine when lowered. The valve is raised by an actuator in response to increasing rotational speed of the crankshaft of the engine, thereby enlarging and raising the effective opening of the exhaust port. Lateral valve surfaces on either side of the toroidal surface close lateral exhaust ports when the valve is lowered. The lateral valve surfaces may be cylindrical and formed on fins.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a snowmobile including a chassis, a tunnel, an engine, a drive track and a drivetrain. The tunnel is attached to the chassis and includes running boards located on either side of the tunnel. The engine is attached to the chassis and within an engine bay. The drivetrain is operatively connected to the engine to deliver propulsive power to the drive track, wherein the running boards extend forward alongside at least a portion of the engine bay.

Abstract: A system for and method of shifting a drive configuration of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is provided. The system includes a shifter assembly, a gear case, and a linkage assembly extending therebetween. The shifter assembly includes a trigger lever for receiving a mechanical user input, thereby moving the shifter assembly between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The linkage assembly translates the user input to the gear case, thereby causing the gear case to shift between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, respectively. A linkage biasing member provides mechanical flexibility between the shifter assembly and the gear case, facilitating shifting on the fly. The trigger lever is operated by toggling it from a rest position to a deployed position. Upon user release, the trigger lever is automatically returned to its rest position for future engagement by the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a snow vehicle, comprising an engine mounted on a frame, a drive track, a drive train operatively interconnecting the engine with the drive track for delivering propulsive power to the drive track, and exhaust system. The exhaust system is positioned within an interior of the frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe a recreational vehicle spindle, including a spindle body having one or more sockets in the spindle body, and an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a steering component. The spindle also includes a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a ski or wheel. The one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.

Abstract: A two-stroke engine comprises a first oiling system and a second oiling system. The first oiling system includes a low-pressure pump that distributes oil from a first oil tank to the two-stroke engine. The second oiling system includes a pump mechanically coupled to a crankshaft of the two-stroke engine, wherein the pump distributes oil from a second oil tank to an accessory at a pressure greater than the first oil pressure, wherein oil distributed to the accessory is returned to the second oil tank.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission including a stationary sheave with a stationary shaft, a movable sheave axially movable relative to the stationary sheave and in contact with the stationary shaft; a spider in contact with at least the moveable sheave and stationary shaft; a spring member, biasing the movable sheave axially away from the stationary sheave; at least one centrifugal actuator including an arm pivotally connected to one of the movable sheave and the spider, the arm pivoting away from the one of the movable sheave and the spider as a speed of rotation of the drive pulley increases, the arm pushing against another one of the movable sheave and the spider as the arm pivots away from the one of the movable sheave and the spider, thereby moving the movable sheave axially toward the stationary sheave, the at least one centrifugal actuator being disposed radially outward of the stationary sheave shaft; and a torque transfer assembly op

Abstract: A snowmobile includes a frame, at least one ski, handbars operatively coupled to the at least one ski, and an engine assembly comprising an engine and an exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold includes at least a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first inlet is configured to connect to a first exhaust port. The first outlet is connected to provide exhaust received from the first inlet to a first exhaust path and the second outlet is connected to provide exhaust received from the first inlet to a second exhaust path.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying scratchers for a tracked vehicle, such as a snowmobile, are described. The scratchers can be deployed in response to the engine temperature of the tracked vehicle exceeding a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the scratchers can be deployed via actuation of a switch by an operator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles that control the temperature of a device included in the vehicle are presented herein. The temperature of the device is controlled by ventilating the device with drivetrain air, such as transmission cooling air. In some embodiments, the device is at a greater temperature than the drivetrain air, which cools the device. In other embodiments, the device is at a lesser temperature than the drivetrain air, which heats the device. The drivetrain air is provided to the device through an exhaust duct coupled to the vehicle's transmission. The drivetrain exhaust air is preferably circulated by the transmission. The transmission may be a continuously variable transmission. The device may be an oxygen sensor that is coupled to an engine exhaust pipe. The oxygen sensor is thermally coupled to the engine exhaust and the engine exhaust pipe, which are at greater temperatures than the transmission exhaust air.

Abstract: A recreational off-highway vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis that is approximately 50 inches wide. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll cage. Grab handles are positioned on the sides of the passenger seat. Select large round tubing protects the vehicle, while rectangular tubing frames the portions of the vehicle beneath body panels. The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that is connected to a transaxle. The engine and transaxle are isolation mounted together with a portion of the air intake assembly. The vehicle is suited for rough terrain travel.

Abstract: A cover for a transmission having improved airflow path is disclosed. The interior of the cover has a progressively narrowing airflow path to reduce pressure drop through the cover, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the airflow through the cover. The cover includes a diverter sheltering the air inlet to the cover to prevent air in the cover from exerting outward pressure on the incoming air.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a fuel rail for a two-stroke internal combustion engine includes a fuel rail body, a fuel inlet component integrated within the fuel rail body as a one-piece component and in fluidic contact with a fuel line, one or more fuel exit ports in fluidic contact with a cylinder of a combustion engine, and one or more fasteners adapted to secure the fuel rail body to a cylinder wall of the cylinder of the combustion engine.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward an engine. In some embodiments, the engine includes a water pump and a balancer shaft. In some embodiments, the water pump has a plain bearing. In some embodiments, plain bearing is supplied with pressurized oil. In some embodiments, the balancer shaft drives the water pump as well as cam shafts.

Abstract: A snowmobile includes a chassis, at least one ski steerably secured to a front of the chassis, and a skid frame having a rear suspension and one or more slide rails. The rear suspension includes a flexible, composite member affixed on a first end to the one or more slide rails and on a second end to the chassis, wherein the flexible, composite member includes a main body and a secondary body.

Abstract: A system for and method of separating oil from crankcase air is provided. The system includes replacing a standard shaft, such as a water pump shaft, with a breather shaft of the present invention and venting crankcase air through the breather shaft to an outside volume of air, such as in an air box. The breather shaft includes a centrifuge positioned within an interior volume of the crankcase and a first portion extending from the centrifuge through a wall of the crankcase. The centrifuge defines a plurality of inlet passageways extending from an outer surface of the centrifuge towards an interior area of the centrifuge. The first portion of the breather shaft defines a venting passageway extending from the interior area of the centrifuge to a vent opening at a distal end of the breather shaft.

Abstract: A drive package includes a remote located CVT and a motor where the CVT is positioned rearward (or forward) of the motor. An auxiliary drive mechanism couples a drive shaft of the CVT to a crankshaft of the motor. The auxiliary drive mechanism is a belt or chain. The drive shaft is substantially parallel to, and longitudinally offset from, the crankshaft. Thus, the width of the drive package is reduced as compared to ATVs having a CVT located adjacent the motor. A method of making an ATV with the drive package is provided.