Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Christopher Kurt Zingelmann

Tsuyoshi Yoshigasaki

Christopher Todd Walker

Yasumi Fukuzumi

Brian Bender

The present subject matter relates to clutch arm and release devices and methods such as for a variable speed transmission. A clutch linkage can include a control shaft pivotable about an axis, a substantially U-shaped arm connected at two points to the shaft, and a plurality of projections positioned on the arm. The arm can be moved between positions in response to rotational movement of the control shaft, and the projections can thereby engage and exert a force on a movable sleeve to move the sleeve, such as for causing a clutch bearing to move between an engaged and a disengaged position.

Variable speed transmission clutch linkage

Flywheel starter pulley attachment apparatuses and methods are disclosed for a flywheel rotatable about an axis and a starter pulley rotatable about the same axis as the flywheel. One or more retainers can be provided to couple rotation of the starter pulley to the flywheel and/or a cooling fan element attached thereto. Each of the retainers can be configured for at least a portion of the retainer to pass through an opening in the starter pulley. Each retainer can include a body portion and a fin portion, the fin portion extending outwardly from the body portion. The fin portion can further include a protruding lip disposed between first and second edges of the fin portion, for example, forming an angle of from about 100&#xb0; to about 180&#xb0;. The protruding lip can be configured to engage the starter pulley when the retainer is positioned through the opening of the starter pulley to secure the starter pulley in place where rotational movement of the flywheel assembly can occur in either direction. Holes can be defined in the cooling fan element that can correspond in shape to the shape of the fin portion of each retainer.

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Carrboro, NC, United States of America

Christopher Kurt Zingelmann