Method and system for starting an internal combustion engine

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame having a tunnel, an engine cradle portion and a front suspension assembly portion;
• a front suspension assembly connected to the front suspension assembly portion;
• a pair of skis connected to the front suspension assembly;
• an endless drive track disposed at least in part under the tunnel;
• an internal combustion engine supported by the engine cradle portion and operatively connected to the endless drive track, the internal combustion engine comprising:
• at least one cylinder;
• at least one cylinder head connected to at least one cylinder;
• at least one piston disposed in the at least one cylinder;
• a crankshaft operatively connected to the at least one piston;
• a crankcase housing at least a portion of the crankshaft;
• a motor-generator comprising a rotor rotationally fixed to the crankshaft and a stator disposed around the crankshaft, the rotor and the stator being co-axial with the crankshaft, the rotor extending radially outward of the stator, the rotor partially housing the stator, the motor-generator being operable in motor mode to rotate the crankshaft about an axis and in generator mode to generate electricity;
• a recoil starter selectively operatively connected to the rotor, the recoil starter operable to rotate the crankshaft via the rotor in a same direction as does the motor-generator in generator mode,
• the motor-generator being disposed between the recoil starter and the crankcase in a direction of the axis,
• at least a portion of the rotor being disposed between the recoil starter and the stator in the direction of the axis;
• a drive pulley of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the crankshaft,
• the motor-generator, the recoil starter, the crankshaft and the drive pulley being coaxial;
• at least one sensor adapted for sensing at least one engine parameter;
• and
• an engine control unit receiving a signal from the at least one sensor,
• the engine control unit controlling a rotation of the crankshaft by one of the motor-generator and the recoil starter based on the signal received from the at least one sensor;
• and
• a display adapted for receiving a display signal sent by the engine control unit and for displaying a corresponding message, the display signal being sent in response to the signal being received by the engine control unit from the at least one sensor, the message being displayed when the crankshaft is to be rotated by the recoil starter.