Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.

Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.

Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.

Abstract: A wheel suspension arm mounting structure of a vehicle in which a suspension arm is mounted to a vehicle body frame member so as to freely swing upward and downward. The wheel suspension arm mounting structure includes a suspension arm support shaft provided on a base of the suspension arm so as to rotate relatively with respect to the suspension arm, a mounting boss provided on the suspension arm support shaft, and a bolt insertion hole provided on the mounting boss. The bolt insertion hole is formed so that a bolt can be inserted in the direction perpendicular to an axis of the suspension arm support shaft, such that the suspension arm support shaft is fixed to an arm mounting portion provided on the vehicle body frame member by the bolt inserted into the insertion hole.

Abstract: There is provided a wheel suspension arm mounting structure of a vehicle in which a suspension arm is mounted to a vehicle body frame member so as to freely swing upward and downward. The wheel suspension arm mounting structure comprises a suspension arm support shaft provided to a base of the suspension arm so as to rotate relatively with respect to the suspension arm, a mounting boss provided to the suspension arm support shaft, and a bolt insertion hole provided to the mounting boss. The bolt insertion hole is formed so that a bolt can be inserted into the direction perpendicular to an axis of the suspension arm support shaft, the suspension arm support shaft is fixed to an arm mounting portion provided to the vehicle body frame member by the bolt inserted into the insertion hole.

Abstract: An engine for a leisure vehicle including a crank chamber in which a crankshaft is disposed, a transmission chamber in which a transmission unit of the vehicle is disposed, the transmission unit having an input shaft that is coupled to the crankshaft and configured to be driven by the crankshaft, a cylinder extending from the crank chamber, and a cylinder head attached to the cylinder. The crank chamber is located above the transmission chamber, and the cylinder is disposed in such a manner that an axial direction thereof is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle body of the leisure vehicle.

Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism for a four-wheel drive vehicle. In the mechanism, a power unit is mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel; each of a differential gear for front wheels and a final speed reducer for rear wheels locates centrally relative to a width of a vehicle body; a power takeoff drive shaft of the power unit is offset from a centerline of the vehicle body; each of an input shaft of the differential gear and a propeller shaft for the front wheels is parallel to the centerline thereof and is coaxial with the power takeoff drive shaft; an input shaft of the final speed reducer tilts towards the power takeoff drive shaft relative to the centerline; a propeller shaft for rear wheels locates on an axis which is coaxial with the input shaft of the final speed reducer.

Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism for a four-wheel drive vehicle. In the mechanism, a power unit is mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel; each of a differential gear for front wheels and a final speed reducer for rear wheels locates centrally relative to a width of a vehicle body; a power takeoff drive shaft of the power unit is offset from a centerline of the vehicle body; each of an input shaft of the differential gear and a propeller shaft for the front wheels is parallel to the centerline thereof and is coaxial with the power takeoff drive shaft; an input shaft of the final speed reducer tilts towards the power takeoff drive shaft relative to the centerline; a propeller shaft for rear wheels locates on an axis which is coaxial with the input shaft of the final speed reducer.

Abstract: In a protective structure for a joint portion of an axle according to the present invention, a knuckle member 24 is provided with a covering portion 28 surrounding a joint portion 23 in the circumferential direction of a constant velocity joint shaft 22, and the joint portion 23 is accommodated in an inner space of the covering portion 28. The knuckle member 24 having a driven shaft support portion 33, a strut support portion 35 and covering portion the is molded out 28 an aluminum alloy into an integral part. According to the present invention, the joint portion is protected reliably by the covering portion, and, a reduction of the weight of the protective structure and simplification of a working process for the production thereof can be attained.

Abstract: A four-wheeled utility vehicle has a body frame; a driver's seat disposed on the body frame; a load-carrying platform having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the load-carrying platform disposed behind the driver's seat; a cabin frame having a rear portion and surrounding the driver's seat. The cabin frame is disposed in front of the load-carrying platform. The rear portion includes a lower end which is positioned on a level below the load-carrying platform and a middle portion which is located on a middle level in a vertical direction within the rear portion. The lower end of the rear portion is joined to the body frame. The middle portion of the rear portion is bound by the front end portion of the load-carrying platform in an easily separable manner.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle transmits a steering force through a steering shaft, a reduction gear mechanism, a steering lever and right and left tie rods to right and left knuckles. The reduction gear mechanism includes a pinion gear turned by the steering shaft, and steering gear engaged with the pinion gear mounted on a lever shaft. The pinion gear and the steering gear are cut in a taper and both of the gears are press-engaged together in an axial direction by a spring so that no backlash is formed between the pinion gear and the steering gear.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle transmits a steering force through a steering shaft, a reduction gear, a steering lever and right and left tie rods to right and left knuckles. The reduction gear includes a pinion gear turned by the steering shaft, a steering gear engaged with the pinion gear and fixedly mounted on a lever shaft, which is combined with the steering lever, and a gear case housing the pinion gear and the steering gear. The lever shaft has a first end portion supported in a bearing held on the gear case. The bearing permits the lever shaft to be turned therein. The lever has a second end portion supported in a bearing hole that permits the second end portion to be shifted in the back-and-forth direction. The second end portion of the lever shaft is biased by a spring so as to press the steering gear against the pinion gear so that no backlash is formed between the pinion gear and the steering gear.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a four-wheeled vehicle transmits a steering force through a steering shaft, a spur gear type reduction gear mechanism, a steering lever and right and left tie rods to right and left knuckles. The reduction gear mechanism includes a pinion gear formed integrally with a pinion shaft, a steering gear mounted on a lever shaft which is combined with the steering lever, and a gear case housing the pinion gear and the steering gear. The steering gear has internal teeth which are engaged with the pinion gear. The lever shaft has a first end portion supported in a bearing held on the gear case. The bearing permits the lever shaft to be turned therein. The lever shaft also has a second end portion supported in a bearing hole. The bearing hole is elongated along the back-and-forth direction so that the second end portion of the lever shaft is able to be shifted along the back-and-forth direction.

Abstract: A four-wheeled utility vehicle has a body frame; a driver's seat disposed on the body frame; a load-carrying platform having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the load-carrying platform disposed behind the driver's seat; a cabin frame having a rear portion and surrounding the driver's seat. The cabin frame is disposed in front of the load-carrying platform. The rear portion includes a lower end which is positioned on a level below the load-carrying platform and a middle portion which is located on a middle level in a vertical direction within the rear portion. The lower end of the rear portion is joined to the body frame. The middle portion of the rear portion is bound by the front end portion of the load-carrying platform in an easily separable manner.

Abstract: A separate lubricating system for a two-stroke-cycle outboard engine comprises a sealed oil tank disposed above the engine for storing therein a lubricating oil used in the separate lubricating system. Compressed air from a crankcase of the engine passes through a check valve attached to the crankcase and is introduced into the oil tank by a pipeline. The separate lubricating system is also provided with a plunger pump for forcibly delivering oil supplied from the oil tank under the compressive force of the compressed air to lubricated parts of the engine. The separate lubricating system of the engine can correctly meter the quantity of the lubricating oil even when air is charged into and trapped in the plunger pump.

Abstract: A fin tab device for a marine vessel driven by a propeller is provided with a fin-shaped main fin tab member and a fin-shaped sub-fin tab member, both tab members extending downwardly from a substantially planar fixing portion detachably and adjustably secured to the bottom face of a stern structure. The two tab members are in an in-line, spaced-apart, tandem relation, the sub-fin tab member projecting downwardly a shorter distance than the main fin tab member. The sub-fin tab member is at a positon between the tip circle of the propeller and the main fin tab member. Cavitation bubbles first collide with the sub-fin tab member, imparting impact force thereto, whereby the lower end portion thereof is broken while the main fin tab member is shielded and protected by the sub-fin tab member.

Abstract: An engine control system of a marine outboard engine has an oscillator which operates in response to an abnormality signal resulting from detection signals from an oil level sensor and a temperature sensor, and in response to a signal from a tachometric sensor to transmit normal and retarded ignition signals alternately and repeatedly to a firing timing control circuit, which thereupon controls the engine ignition with normal firing timing when receiving the normal ignition signal and with retarded firing timing when receiving the retarded ignition signal. The engine power output under retarded firing time is lower than that under normal firing timing, whereby the engine emits an abnormal humming sound, warning the operator that an abnormal condition has occurred.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a marine propulsion system including a double propeller. To obtain a forward thrust, the two propellers are driven in opposite directions while producing forward propulsion forces. To obtain a rearward thrust, only one propeller is driven in the direction to produce a rearward force. The two propellers are attached to coaxial inner and outer horizontal shafts. A single vertical shaft is coupled by bevel gears to the shafts, and movable clutches couple the driving force to the horizontal shafts.

Abstract: In a marine outboard engine unit driven by a four-stroke-cycle engine, the vertical crankshaft is aft of the cylinders and the camshaft and drives the camshaft via a sprocket-and-chain mechanism, the lower end of the camshaft being coupled to the extension drive shaft which is coupled to the propeller at the lower end of the lower unit, and the carburetor for each cylinder is at the forward part of the engine. By this arrangement, "oil rise" of the lubricating oil in the engine is prevented when the boat hull, under way, assumes a bow-up attitude, and the speed-reduction ratio from crankshaft to propeller can be reduced, whereby a high-speed, high-power-output engine can be used.

Abstract: The cylinder for a two cycle engine includes at least a port opened and closed by a piston in the cylinder the port being divided into a plurality of port portions by a rib extending longitudinally of the cylinder. The inner surface of the cylinder is formed with elongated concave recesses at the respective ends of the rib extending in the direction of extension thereof for regulating the pressing force per unit area of honing process. Each of the concave recesses has preferably substantially the same width as the width of the rib and the sum of the lengths of the concave recesses is preferably substantially the same as the length of the port.