Rear suspension assembly for a snowmobile

A snowmobile extending along a longitudinal axis, the snowmobile comprising:

• a frame;
• a powertrain coupled to the frame;
• a track operatively coupled to the powertrain for propelling the snowmobile on a ground surface;
• and
• a rear suspension positioned generally within the track, the rear suspension comprising:
• at least one slide rail defining a plane,
• at least one front idler wheel, the at least one front idler wheel longitudinally positioned such that at least a portion of the at least one front idler wheel is at at or rearwards of a rear end of the at least one slide rail,
• at least one center idler wheel positioned longitudinally rearward relative to the at least one front idler wheel, and
• at least one rear idler wheel positioned longitudinally rearward of the at least one center idler wheel, wherein the at least one center idler wheel includes at least a portion positioned at a vertical height below a vertical height of the plane.

A rear suspension assembly for use with a snowmobile, the snowmobile having an endless track and positioned around the rear suspension assembly, the rear suspension assembly comprising:

• at least one slide rail defining a plane;
• a first bracket operably coupled to a second bracket;
• at least one front idler wheel coupled to the second bracket, the at least one front idler wheel longitudinally positioned such that at least a portion of the at least one front idler wheel is at at or rearwards of a rear end of the at least one slide rail;
• at least one center idler wheel coupled to the first bracket and positioned longitudinally rearward of the at least one idler wheel;
• at least one rear idler wheel coupled to the first bracket and positioned longitudinally rearward of the at least one center idler wheel;
• and
• wherein the first bracket is rotatably coupled to the second bracket, such that the first bracket can rotate clockwise and counter clockwise relative to the second bracket through an angle of rotation defined by an uppermost limit and a lowermost limit;
• and wherein the at least one center idler wheel and the at least one rear idler wheel rotate with the first bracket due to the coupling of the center idler wheel and the rear idler wheel to the first bracket.

A snowmobile extending along a longitudinal axis, the snowmobile comprising:

• a frame;
• a powertrain coupled to the frame;
• a track operatively coupled to the powertrain for propelling the snowmobile on a ground surface, the track having an upper run and a lower run;
• and
• a rear suspension positioned generally within the track, the rear suspension comprising:
• at least one slide rail defining a plane,
• at least one front idler wheel in contact with the lower run of the track, the at least one front idler wheel longitudinally positioned such that at least a portion of the at least one front idler wheel is at at or rearwards of a rear end of the at least one slide rail,
• at least one center idler wheel positioned rearwards of the at least one front idler wheel and in contact with the lower run of the track, and
• at least one rear idler wheel positioned rearwards of the at least one center idler wheel, wherein the at least one rear idler wheel is coupled with a rear axle;
• and
• wherein the at least one rear idler wheel has a diameter and a height is defined as the height extending between the rear axle and a lowermost surface of the lower run of the track, and wherein the height has a value of at least the diameter of the at least one rear idler wheel.

A snowmobile extending along a longitudinal axis, the snowmobile comprising:

• a frame;
• a powertrain coupled to the frame;
• a track operatively coupled to the powertrain for propelling the snowmobile on a ground surface, the track having an upper run and a lower run;
• and
• a rear suspension positioned generally within the track, the rear suspension comprising:
• at least one slide rail defining a plane,
• at least one center idler wheel positioned in contact with the lower run of the track,
• a bracket operatively coupled to the at least one center idler wheel, and
• at least one rear idler wheel positioned rearward of the at least one center idler wheel, in contact with the lower run of the track, and operatively coupled to the bracket such that the center idler wheel and the rear idler wheel rotate with the bracket, wherein the center idler wheel is positioned adjacent the at least one rear idler wheel and the positioning of the at least one center idler wheel is configured such that the at least one rear idler wheel is positioned at an angle relative to the plane having a value that is greater than zero.