Snowmobile

A snowmobile, comprising:

• a frame;
• a ski connected to the frame;
• a rear suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame;
• an endless track supported by the rear suspension assembly;
• a motor supported by the frame, the motor comprising a shaft rotatable about a shaft rotation axis;
• and
• a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the motor to the endless track for driving the endless track, the CVT comprising:
• a primary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the motor, the primary pulley being rotatable about a primary pulley rotation axis, the primary pulley rotation axis extending parallel to the shaft rotation axis of the shaft of the motor, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the shaft of the motor by one of:
• a chain;
• and
• a belt;
• a secondary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the primary pulley, the secondary pulley being rotatable about a secondary pulley rotation axis, the secondary pulley rotation axis being positioned forwardly of the primary pulley rotation axis, the secondary pulley being operatively connected to the endless track to drive the endless track;
• and
• a transmission belt connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley.

A snowmobile, comprising:

• a frame;
• a ski connected to the frame;
• a rear suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• at least one slide rail;
• a suspension assembly drive axle defining a drive axle rotation axis;
• a drive sprocket mounted to the drive axle;
• and
• a plurality of idler wheels connected to the at least one slide rail;
• an endless track supported by the rear suspension assembly, the drive sprocket of the rear suspension assembly being rotatable about the drive axle rotation axis to drive the endless track;
• a motor supported by the frame, the motor comprising a shaft rotatable about a shaft rotation axis, the drive axle rotation axis being positioned forwardly of the shaft rotation axis of the shaft of the motor;
• and
• a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the motor to the endless track for driving the endless track, the CVT comprising:
• a primary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the motor, the primary pulley being rotatable about a primary pulley rotation axis, the primary pulley rotation axis extending parallel to the shaft rotation axis of the shaft of the motor, the drive axle rotation axis being positioned rearwardly of the primary pulley rotation axis, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the shaft of the motor by one of:
• a chain;
• and
• a belt;
• a secondary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the primary pulley, the secondary pulley being operatively connected to the drive sprocket of the rear suspension assembly by a link, the secondary pulley being operatively connected to the endless track via the drive sprocket to drive the endless track, the secondary pulley being rotatable about a secondary pulley rotation axis, the drive axle rotation axis extending parallel to the secondary pulley rotation axis and being positioned rearwardly of the secondary pulley rotation axis,
• the primary and secondary pulleys of the CVT being disposed laterally between the link operatively connecting the secondary pulley to the drive sprocket and the one of the chain and the belt operatively connecting the primary pulley to the shaft of the motor;
• and
• a transmission belt connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley.

A snowmobile, comprising:

• a frame;
• a ski connected to the frame;
• a rear suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame;
• an endless track supported by the rear suspension assembly;
• a motor supported by the frame, the motor comprising a shaft rotatable about a shaft rotation axis;
• and
• a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the motor to the endless track for driving the endless track, the CVT comprising:
• a primary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the motor, the primary pulley being rotatable about a primary pulley rotation axis, the primary pulley rotation axis extending parallel to the shaft rotation axis of the shaft of the motor, the primary pulley being operatively connected to the shaft of the motor by one of:
• a chain;
• and
• a belt;
• a secondary pulley operatively connected to and driven by the primary pulley, the secondary pulley being rotatable about a secondary pulley rotation axis, the secondary pulley rotation axis being vertically lower than the primary pulley rotation axis, the secondary pulley being operatively connected to the endless track to drive the endless track;
• and
• a transmission belt connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley.