Snowmobile having a snow guard

A snowmobile comprising:

• a frame having a tunnel;
• at least one ski operatively connected to the frame;
• a motor supported by the frame;
• an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile, the endless drive track having a plurality of external lugs having a lug height;
• a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame,
• the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel,
• the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis;
• and
• a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly,
• the snow guard having a deflector,
• the deflector having a leading edge and a trailing edge,
• the leading edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis,
• the trailing edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis,
• the deflector having an inner arcuate surface and an outer surface,
• the inner arcuate surface facing the endless drive track,
• a distance between the at least one rear idler wheel and the inner arcuate surface being greater than the lug height,
• a gap being defined between the inner arcuate surface and an end of an external lug of the plurality of external lugs that is disposed between the inner arcuate surface and the at least one idler wheel, and
• the gap being smaller than the lug height.

A snowmobile comprising:

• a frame having a tunnel;
• at least one ski operatively connected to the frame;
• a motor supported by the frame;
• an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile;
• a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame,
• the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel,
• the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis;
• and
• a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly,
• the snow guard having a deflector,
• the deflector having a leading edge and a trailing edge,
• the leading edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis,
• the trailing edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis,
• the deflector having an inner arcuate surface and an outer surface,
• the inner arcuate surface facing the endless drive track,
• a line tangent to the inner arcuate surface at the leading edge of the deflector does not intersect the endless drive track, and
• the line intersecting the tunnel forward of a rear end of the tunnel.