Drivetrain and constant velocity joints for recreational vehicles

A constant velocity joint for a recreational vehicle, the constant velocity joint comprising:

• a housing extending from a rearward end to a forward end, the housing being a generally cylindrical body formed from a rigid material;
• an aperture defined in the rearward end of the housing for receiving and rotatably connecting with an axle, the aperture leading to an interior space surrounded by the cylindrical body;
• one or more interior components for rotatably connecting the axle to the housing;
• and
• a forward locking element positioned on the forward end of the housing, the forward locking element comprising a plurality of splines that extend parallel with a central axis of the housing and are distributed circumferentially about the forward locking element, a circumferential groove in the forward locking element, a snap ring inserted into the groove, and a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism comprising a spline lock that is rotationally mounted to a forward face of the locking element via a rotating shaft, the spline lock being a toolless locking half shaft retention system defining a separate a rotating set of splines positioned adjacent to splines of the forward locking element;
• a rotational spring mounted to the shaft and configured to rotate the mechanism from a first position where the splined section and the splines are aligned, to a second position where the splined section and the splines are misaligned, preventing a sliding interaction between a splined receiver and splined constant velocity joint.

A constant velocity joint for a recreational vehicle, the constant velocity joint comprising:

• a housing extending from a rearward end to a forward end, the housing being a generally cylindrical body formed from a rigid material;
• an aperture defined in the rearward end of the housing for receiving and rotatably connecting with an axle, the aperture leading to an interior space surrounded by the cylindrical body;
• one or more interior components for rotatably connecting the axle to the housing;
• and
• a forward locking element positioned on the forward end of the housing, the forward locking element comprising a retention mechanism comprising one or more or pins positioned on the forward locking element and corresponding with one or more tracks in a receiver;
• wherein the one or more tracks in the receiver comprise a first axial portion extending axially for providing a track for the pins to enter the receiver, a first circumferential portion providing a track for the pins to rotate and offset from the first axial portion, and a second axial portion providing a track for the pins to move axially rearwardly into a groove, thereby providing a secure connection between the receiver and the housing.