Limiter strap adjustment system for a snowmobile suspension

A method of adjusting a limiter strap of a vehicle,

• the vehicle having:
• a limiter strap;
• a strap holder connected to an end of the limiter strap, the strap holder having at least a first strap holder position and a second strap holder position;
• and
• a biasing member connected to the strap holder, the biasing member having at least a first biased position wherein the strap holder is biased towards the first strap holder position and a second biased position wherein the strap holder is biased towards the second strap holder position,
• the method comprising:
• biasing the strap holder toward one of the first strap holder position and the second strap holder position by moving the biasing member with respect to the strap holder to a corresponding one of the first biased position and the second biased position from an other of the first biased position and the second biased position without moving the strap holder to the one of the first strap holder position and the second strap holder position;
• while biasing the strap holder toward the one of the first strap holder position and the second strap holder position, preventing the strap holder from moving toward the one of the first strap holder position and the second strap holder position if the limiter strap is taut;
• propelling the vehicle along an uneven ground surface so as to change a tension within the limiter strap;
• and
• while propelling the vehicle along the uneven ground surface, moving the strap holder to the one of the first strap holder position and the second strap holder position when the tension in the limiter strap is slack.

A rear suspension assembly for a snowmobile, comprising:

• a pair of slide rails;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to the pair of slide rails and adapted to be pivotally connected to a tunnel of the snowmobile;
• a shock absorber being adapted to be pivotally connected between the tunnel and the pair of slide rails;
• a limiter strap adapted to extend between the tunnel and the pair of slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the pair of slide rails and the tunnel;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the pair of slide rails;
• and
• the tunnel when the at least one suspension arm is connected to the tunnel,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first strap holder position and a second strap holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap, relative to the one of the pair of slide rails and the tunnel, being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a biasing member connected to the strap holder for biasing the strap holder, the biasing member having at least a first biased position and a second biased position,
• in the first biased position, the biasing member biasing the strap holder toward the first strap holder position, and
• in the second biased position, the biasing member biasing the strap holder toward the second strap holder position;
• and
• a handle connected to the biasing member, the handle being moveable with respect to the strap holder to change the biasing force of the biasing member on the strap holder.

A method of adjusting a limiter strap of a vehicle,

• the vehicle having:
• a limiter strap;
• a strap holder connected to an end of the limiter strap, the strap holder having a first strap holder position and a second strap holder position;
• a biasing member connected to the strap holder;
• and
• a handle connected to the biasing member, the handle having a first position corresponding to the first strap holder position of the strap holder and a second position corresponding to the second strap holder position of the strap holder, the method comprising:
• moving the handle from the first position to the second position and thereby increasing a force of the biasing member on the strap holder without moving the strap holder from the first strap holder position to the second strap holder position when the limiter strap is taut;
• driving the vehicle over an uneven ground surface after moving the handle from the first position to the second position, and
• when a tension in the limiter strap is slackened due to the vehicle moving over the uneven ground surface, moving the strap holder, via the force of the biasing member, from the first strap holder position to the second strap holder position without further movement of the handle.

A rear suspension assembly for a snowmobile, comprising:

• a pair of slide rails;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to the pair of slide rails and adapted to be pivotally connected to a tunnel of the snowmobile;
• a shock absorber adapted to be pivotally connected between the tunnel and the pair of slide rails;
• a limiter strap adapted to extend between the tunnel and the pair of slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the pair of slide rails and the tunnel;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the pair of slide rails, and
• the tunnel when the at least one suspension arm is connected to the tunnel,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first strap holder position and a second strap holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap, relative to the one of the pair of slide rails and the tunnel, being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a handle operatively connected to the strap holder and being rotatable with respect to the strap holder, the handle having a first handle position corresponding to the first strap holder position of the strap holder and a second handle position corresponding to the second strap holder position of the strap holder;
• and
• a biasing member connected between the strap holder and the handle for biasing the strap holder,
• when the strap holder is in the second strap holder position and the handle is moved from the second handle position to the first handle position, the biasing member biasing the strap holder towards the first strap holder position, and
• when the strap holder is in the first strap holder position and the handle is moved from the first handle position to the second handle position, the biasing member biasing the strap holder toward the second strap holder position.