Patent ID: 6283241
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: B62M

Abstract:
A snowmobile comprised of a frame assembly, a drive belt having a ground engaging side and a backed-up side, an engine transmission assembly for driving said drive belt, and a suspension system for suspending said drive belt for suspension movement relative to said frame, said suspension system including at least one guide rail associated with the backed-up side of said drive belt for maintaining said drive belt in driving contact with the terrain over which said snowmobile travels, a cushioning unit having a pair of relatively movable end portions and which cushions the movement of the end portions relative to each other, a linkage assembly having only a connection to said guide rail at a single location along its length and being comprised of links having connections for suspending said guide rail for suspension movement relative to said frame assembly and for loading said cushioning unit by moving each of said end portions of said cushioning unit relative to each other in opposite directions upon suspension movement, at least one of said connections of said linkage assembly being adjustable for adjusting the suspension characteristics of said cushioning unit without changing the relative positions of the ends of the cushioning unit during the adjustment.