Internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine main body that includes a crankcase, a cylinder block provided on top of the crankcase, a cylinder head provided on top of the cylinder block, and a head cover provided on top of the cylinder head, the internal combustion engine main body is attached to a main body frame such that the cylinder axis thereof is substantially parallel to the vertical direction and the crank axis extends in left and right direction, characterized in that the internal combustion engine further comprises:

• a carburetor provided on the rear side of the cylinder head and having an intake passage extending in the fore and aft direction, the front end of the intake passage being connected to an intake port of the internal combustion engine main body and the rear end of the intake passage forming an air inlet port;
• a fire-resistant cover member having a front wall facing the air inlet port via a gap, the front wall having a plate shape having a major plane facing in the fore and aft direction;
• and
• a breather tube having an inlet end connected to a crank chamber of the internal combustion engine main body, and an outlet end supported by the cover member at a position located between the front wall and the carburetor,
• wherein the upper and lower directions are along the vertical direction, the fore and aft directions are perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the left and right directions are perpendicular to the vertical direction and front and rear directions,
• wherein the cover member further includes a lower wall extending from a lower edge of the front wall toward the carburetor, and having a cover member opening passed vertically through the lower wall.