COOLING AIR INTAKE STRUCTURE FOR V-BELT TYPE STEPLESS TRANSMISSION

Disclosed is a cooling air intake structure for a V-belt drive continuously variable transmission 18, which is disposed beside the rear wheel of a small vehicle and which does not permit muddy water and dust to enter therein. A cooling air inlet 71 through which cooling air is taken in is formed at a position beside a transmission case 37 and above a cooling fan side opening 52 formed in the transmission case 37 opposite to a drive pulley 40. A cooling air passage 70 extending from the cooling air inlet 71 to the side opening 52 is formed so as to surround the side opening 52. Cooling air taken in through the cooling air inlet 71 is guided so as to flow upward first and then flows downward along a U-shaped cooling air passage 74 to the side opening 52 of the transmission case 37 beside the cooling fan.