A vehicle driver interface includes a mode selector, such as a shift lever, and two shift paddles. The shift paddles perform different functions according to which driving mode is selected via the mode selector. In a manual mode, driver activation of one of the shift paddles results in an upshifts and driver activation of the other shift paddle results in a downshift. In a snowplow mode, driver activation of one of the shift paddles shifts the transmission to reverse while driver activation of the other shift paddle shifts the transmission to forward.

A control device for an automatic transmission includes a continuously variable transmission mechanism, a torque converter, a target transmission ratio calculation unit, a feedback control unit, and a phase compensation unit. The torque converter has a lock-up clutch. The target transmission ratio calculation unit is configured to calculate a target transmission ratio based on a travelling state. The feedback control unit is configured to perform feedback control based on an actual value indicative of a state of the continuously variable transmission mechanism. The phase compensation unit is configured to perform phase lead compensation of the feedback control based on the travelling state. The phase compensation control unit is configured to halt the phase lead compensation when an unstable travelling state of a vehicle is detected. The phase compensation control unit is further configured to release the lock-up clutch when the phase lead compensation is halted.

A steering lever system includes a pair of lever bodies, a pivotal body coupled to each of the lever bodies and a neutral position detector. The pivotal body includes a first boss portion and a second boss portion. The lever body is pivotable about a first pivot axis of the first boss portion from a neutral position to a neutral end position. The lever body is also pivotable about a second pivot axis of the second boss portion from a forward traveling end position through a neutral position to a reverse traveling end position. The neutral position detector is responsive to a detected portion provided in an auxiliary member fixed to the lever body, at the neutral end position of the lever body. The detected portion is offset from a pivotal locus of the lever body about the first pivot axis.

An electric shift actuator is provided in an engine cover in which an engine of an upper unit is accommodated, a forward/reverse shift mechanism is provided in a lower unit, and a shift transmission mechanism including a clutch rod is provided to transmit driving force of the electric shift actuator to the forward/reverse shift mechanism by connecting the electric shift actuator with the forward/reverse shift mechanism, in which the clutch rod is disposed vertically in an intermediate unit on the rear side of a drive shaft that transmits driving force of the engine.

An outboard motor has a mounting assembly, a powerhead, a transmission, and a shift shaft that extends from the powerhead to the transmission via a conduit in the mounting assembly. The shift shaft is positionable into a forward position in which the transmission is engaged in forward gear, reverse position in which the transmission is engaged in reverse gear, and a neutral position in which the transmission is in neutral gear. In the forward position, an upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to a forward side of the conduit than the aftward side of the conduit. In the reverse position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to an aftward side of the conduit than the forward side of the conduit. In the neutral position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned between the forward and reverse positions.

A golf cart shift device for facilitating ease of shifting gears for a golf cart. The golf can shift device includes a shaft support member pivotally fastenable to a forward and reverse shaft and abutting a vertically disposed base wall of a golf cart supporting a seat for a user; a shaft securely supported by the shaft support member and having an upper portion and a lower portion; and a knob secured to the shaft and spaced from the vertically disposed base wall when the shaft support member is fastened to the forward and reverse shaft.

A steering lever system includes a pair of lever bodies, a pivotal body coupled to each of the lever bodies and a neutral position detector. The pivotal body includes a first boss portion and a second boss portion. The lever body is pivotable about a first pivot axis of the first boss portion from a neutral position to a neutral end position. The lever body is also pivotable about a second pivot axis of the second boss portion from a forward traveling end position through a neutral position to a reverse traveling end position. The neutral position detector is responsive to a detected portion provided in an auxiliary member fixed to the lever body, at the neutral end position of the lever body. The detected portion is offset from a pivotal locus of the lever body about the first pivot axis.

A shift device for a boat includes a lever which can be operated about a predetermined axis, and a lever operation suppression mechanism which suppresses an operation of the lever. The lever operation suppression mechanism includes a load applying portions (a first load applying portion and a second load applying portion) which apply different loads to the lever in a first operation period of operating the lever between a neutral position of the lever and a first position corresponding to a forward movement of the boat, and in a second operation period of operating the lever between the neutral position and a second position corresponding to a backward movement of the boat.

An electric shift actuator is provided in an engine cover in which an engine of an upper unit is accommodated, a forward/reverse shift mechanism is provided in a lower unit, and a shift transmission mechanism including a clutch rod is provided to transmit driving force of the electric shift actuator to the forward/reverse shift mechanism by connecting the electric shift actuator with the forward/reverse shift mechanism, in which the clutch rod is disposed vertically in an intermediate unit on the rear side of a drive shaft that transmits driving force of the engine.

An assembly for regulating ground speed of a vehicle includes a shift arm fixed to the transmission shaft, a main shaft, a control arm connected to the main shaft, a shift rod transmitting pivotal movement of the control arm to the shift arm, a first pedal unit acting as a seesaw pedal unit, and a second pedal unit acting as a dual pedal system, and a common lever element transmitting pivotal movement caused by the first pedal unit or the second pedal unit to the control arm. The first pedal unit and the second pedal unit are replaceable with each other.