Patent ID: 6973903

Claim:
A direct lever system for an engine, the system comprising: a cylinder bore, the cylinder bore having an outer end; a cam assembly having at least one cam surface and an axis inward of the outer end of the cylinder bore; two valves having opened and closed positions; two valve stems, each valve stem attached to one of the two valves; a cylinder head substantially enclosing the outer end, the valves being seated in the cylinder head; and two pivotably mounted valve-operating levers, at least one of the valve-operating levers including, a connector member having a follower arm end defining a first reduced-diameter portion and a valve arm end defining a second reduced-diameter portion separate from the first reduced-diameter portion, the connector member defining a pivot axis about which the valve-operating lever pivots; a follower arm including an aperture, a portion of the connector member engaging at least a portion of the follower arm adjacent the aperture to fixedly attach the follower arm to the connector member, the follower arm having a cam follower surface in contact with the at least one cam surface; and a valve arm including an aperture, a portion of the connector member engaging at least a portion of the valve arm adjacent the aperture to fixedly attach the valve arm to the connector member.