A motor vehicle includes a motor and a transmission including a drive shaft driven by the motor and connecting the motor to the transmission, a first output shaft extending along the vehicle longitudinal axis in the one direction, which first output shaft is connected to a wheel axle by a first differential, and a second output shaft extending along the vehicle longitudinal axis in the opposite direction, which second output shaft is connected to a second wheel axle by a second differential, characterized in that the drive shaft is disposed in the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle and the first and the second output shaft are disposed on opposing sides relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle with identical spacing with respect to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

An arrangement for balancing axial forces in driver and driven clutches of a continuously variable transmission system that may include but is not limited to a pulley, a sheave mechanism, a driver clutch mechanism, or driver clutch, a driven pulley mechanism, a driven clutch mechanism, or driven clutch, and a shifting mechanism, servo, actuator mechanism, or actuator. The torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission system is converted to axial forces acting upon belt. The forces in driver and driven clutches are balanced to minimize the force required for speed changes by shifting mechanism.

An arrangement for balancing axial forces in driver and driven clutches of a continuously variable transmission system that may include but is not limited to a pulley, a sheave mechanism, a driver clutch mechanism, or driver clutch, a driven pulley mechanism, a driven clutch mechanism, or driven clutch, and a shifting mechanism, servo, actuator mechanism, or actuator. The torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission system is converted to axial forces acting upon belt. The forces in driver and driven clutches are balanced to minimize the force required for speed changes by shifting mechanism.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) clutch that includes a post, a fixed sheave, a moveable sheave and a peak torque limiter (PTL) is provided. The fixed sheave is rotationally mounted on the post. The fixed sheave is axially fixed in relation to the post. The moveable sheave is rotationally mounted on the post. The moveable sheave is configured to move axially on the post. The PTL operationally couples at least the moveable sheave to the post. The PTL is configured to slip when exposed to a torque over a set maximum toque threshold.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) clutch that includes a post, a fixed sheave, a moveable sheave and a peak torque limiter (PTL) is provided. The fixed sheave is rotationally mounted on the post. The fixed sheave is axially fixed in relation to the post. The moveable sheave is rotationally mounted on the post. The moveable sheave is configured to move axially on the post. The PTL operationally couples at least the moveable sheave to the post. The PTL is configured to slip when exposed to a torque over a set maximum toque threshold.

A method of operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes: an engine; a throttle operator moveable by a driver; a throttle valve regulating airflow to the engine; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine; at least one ground engaging member including at least one of: a wheel and a track; a piston operatively connected to a driving pulley of the CVT for applying a piston force to the driving pulley when actuated and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley; and a control unit for controlling actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes: determining a driven pulley speed of a driven pulley of the CVT; detecting an uphill stand condition indicative of the vehicle being stopped on an uphill; responsive to the detection of the uphill stand condition, controlling the piston force based on the driven pulley speed.

A method of operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes: an engine; a throttle operator moveable by a driver; a throttle valve regulating airflow to the engine; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine; at least one ground engaging member including at least one of: a wheel and a track; a piston operatively connected to a driving pulley of the CVT for applying a piston force to the driving pulley when actuated and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley; and a control unit for controlling actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes: determining a driven pulley speed of a driven pulley of the CVT; detecting an uphill stand condition indicative of the vehicle being stopped on an uphill; responsive to the detection of the uphill stand condition, controlling the piston force based on the driven pulley speed.

A continuously variable transmission includes: a CVT mechanism including a driving pulley, a driven pulley, an annular belt wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and a centrifugal fan blade disposed at the driving pulley; and a CVT case that defines an internal space accommodating the CVT mechanism. An inner surface of the CVT case includes: a peripheral surface portion that covers the CVT mechanism from an outer side in a radial direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the driving pulley; and a guide surface portion that projects toward an inner side in the radial direction from the peripheral surface portion.

A continuously variable transmission includes: a CVT mechanism including a driving pulley, a driven pulley, an annular belt wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and a centrifugal fan blade disposed at the driving pulley; and a CVT case that defines an internal space accommodating the CVT mechanism. An inner surface of the CVT case includes: a peripheral surface portion that covers the CVT mechanism from an outer side in a radial direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the driving pulley; and a guide surface portion that projects toward an inner side in the radial direction from the peripheral surface portion.

A gear transmission (20) includes a plurality of shift gears (36, 37), a plurality of shifters (55, 56) engaged, respectively, with the plurality of shift gears (36, 37), and a shift drum (58) rotatably operated by a stepped speed changing operational tool (66) to operate the plurality of shifters (55, 56), thus being speed-changed in forward three speed stages. The stepped speed changing operational tool (66) is switched to a neutral position, a forward third speed position, a forward second speed position and a forward first speed position in this cited order.