Variable speed drive for internal combustion engine

A variable speed drive for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a transmission having a plurality of gear trains;
• a transmission case for accommodating the transmission;
• an operation mechanism for selectively establishing a shift stage of the transmission;
• a shift spindle operatively connected to the operation mechanism and extending outwardly from the transmission case;
• an inputting mechanism operatively connected to the shift spindle for rotating the shift spindle;
• and
• a rotational angle sensor detecting the angle of rotation of the shift spindle;
• the shift spindle being formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and having an input side end portion to which the inputting mechanism is connected and an output side end portion supported for rotation on a transmission side supporting portion of the transmission case;
• a sensor shaft being inserted in the inside of the shift spindle in a spaced relationship from an internal circumferential face of the shift spindle with a gap left therebetween;
• the sensor shaft being connected at one end portion thereof to an inner circumferential face of the output side end portion of the shift spindle;
• the rotational angle sensor being provided at the other end portion of the sensor shaft so as to detect the angle of rotation of the sensor shaft.

A variable speed drive for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a transmission having a plurality of gear trains;
• an operation mechanism selectively establishing a shift stage of the transmission;
• a shift spindle operatively connected to the operation mechanism;
• and
• an inputting mechanism operatively connected to the shift spindle for rotating the shift spindle;
• the operation mechanism including a master arm pivoted integrally with the shift spindle and a stopper member restricting the amount of the pivotal movement of the master arm;
• the shift spindle having an input side end portion to which the inputting mechanism is connected and an output side end portion supported for rotation on a transmission side supporting portion;
• the master arm being positioned between the input side end portion and the output side end portion in an axial direction of the shift spindle;
• the master arm having an extension collar member fixed integrally thereto;
• the extension collar member connecting the master arm and a connection portion provided at a location of the shift spindle rather near to the input side end portion than the output side end portion;
• the extension collar member extending from the connection portion toward the master arm with a gap formed between an outer circumferential face of the shift spindle and an inner circumferential face of the extension collar member.