Snowmobile steering system

A steering post system for a snowmobile, the steering post system comprising a steering post formed of metal and having an upper yoke portion with two separated yoke arms, each yoke arm having a central recess sized for a handlebar, the two recesses having a recess axis, each yoke arm having a plurality of screw holes positioned on each of the two sides of the recess, the steering post further comprising a tubular portion with an tubular portion axis extending from the upper yoke portion downwardly, the tubular portion having an upper bearing portion with a bearing surface thereon for rotatably connecting to the snowmobile frame, a flange portion positioned below the upper bearing portion, the tubular portion extending below the flange portion to an elongate steering arm with a steering arm axis that extends outward at an obtuse angle to the tubular portion axis, the steering arm having an arm end portion with a hole for connection with a steering connecting rod, the steering post system further comprising a pair of spacer members, one each for each of the yoke arms, the spacer members each having a yoke arm interface side with a projection sized to the handlebar whereby said projections are receivable by respective central recesses of the pair of yoke arms, each spacer member further having a handlebar side with a recess sized for a handlebar, each spacer member having a plurality of screw holes that align with respective holes of each yoke arm, the steering post system further comprising at least one yoke cap, each yoke cap having a lower side with a recess for receiving a handlebar,

• whereby the steering post system provides two alternative handlebar mounting heights by utilizing or not utilizing the pair of spacer members.

A method of elevating a handlebar position on a snowmobile having a steering post with a pair of handlebar receiving portions, each handlebar receiving portion having a recess conformingly sized to the handlebar and a pair of flat upward facing surfaces on opposing sides of each recess, each flat upward facing surface having a hole for receiving a threaded screw for securement of the handlebar, method comprising:

• selecting a pair of U-shaped spacers of a desired elevation height, each spacer having a downward projection sized for the respective recesses of the handlebar receiving portions, a pair of downward facing surfaces for seating on the pair of flat upwardly facing surfaces of each handlebar receiving portion, a central upwardly facing handlebar recess, a pair of flat upwardly facing faces, and a pair of holes, each hole extending through a respective one of the upwardly facing faces through the spacer;
• positioning each of the pair of spacers on respective ones of the handlebar receiving portions with the downward projections seated in the respective recesses and the holes of the spacers aligned with respective holes in the flat upward facing surfaces of the handlebar receiving portions;
• placing a handlebar in the handlebar recesses of the pair of spacers;
• placing one or two yoke caps onto the handlebar, the one or two yoke caps having at least one downward facing recess sized for the handlebar and having a plurality of holes in alignment with the holes in the pair of spacers and with the holes in the pair of handlebar receiving portions;
• attaching threaded fasteners that clamp secure the one or two yoke caps to the pair of spacers and pair of handlebar receiving portions with the handlebar clamped therein.