Patent ID: 7631718

Claim:
A vehicle engine unit comprising an engine body, the engine body comprising a transversely-extending crankshaft, a transmission comprising a primary sheave, a secondary sheave and a flexible member connecting the primary sheave and the secondary sheave, the primary sheave connected to the crankshaft such that the crankshaft and the primary sheave rotate together, the secondary sheave connected to a transversely-extending secondary sheave shaft such that the secondary sheave and the secondary sheave shaft rotate together, a transmission case generally enclosing the primary sheave, the secondary sheave, and the flexible member, a transversely-extending idle shaft connected to the secondary sheave shaft such that rotation of the secondary sheave shaft causes rotation of the idle shaft, the idle shaft forming a portion of a speed-reduction mechanism, a transversely-extending drive shaft connected to the speed-reduction mechanism, the idle shaft reducing a rotational speed of the drive shaft when the vehicle runs forward, the secondary sheave shaft being positioned vertically higher than at least a portion of the drive shaft, an imaginary plane extending through a rotational axis of the secondary sheave shaft and the drive shaft, the idle shaft being disposed between the primary sheave and the imaginary plane, and the drive shaft being positioned inside an outer profile of the transmission case when viewed from a lateral side of the engine unit the speed-reduction mechanism further comprising a first reduction gear that is carried by the idle shaft and at least a portion of the first reduction gear overlapping with the primary sheave when viewed from the lateral side of the engine unit.