Two-position neutral switch for multi-speed transmission

A method of operating a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an engine having an output shaft, a clutch on said engine output shaft, a multi-speed transmission selectively driven by said engine output shaft through said clutch, a stick shift for manually directing said transmission to shift between speeds, an electronic control unit for controlling the output speed of said engine, and a switch system for completing a first circuit for providing a positive electronic signal to said electronic control unit of when said transmission is in neutral and a second circuit for providing a positive electrical signal when said transmission is in a gear-engaged position;
• b. operating said vehicle and controlling the speed of said engine with said electronic control unit;
• c. monitoring the position of said switch system as a shift is occurring;
• d. and providing a signal to said electronic control unit from said switch system second circuit when a gear is engaged in said multi-speed transmission and said first circuit when said transmission is in a neutral state.

A vehicle drive comprising:

• an engine having an output shaft;
• a transmission having a plurality of selectively actuated speed ratios, said transmission being movable between a neutral and a gear-engaged state, a neutral shaft being driven by said transmission between a first position indicating said transmission is in a neutral state, and a second position indicating said transmission is in a gear-engaged state;
• an electronic control unit for controlling the output speed of said engine;
• and
• a switch system for monitoring when said multi-speed transmission is in said engaged state and when said multi-speed transmission is in said neutral state, said switch system being driven between a position wherein a first circuit is completed indicating a neutral state and a position wherein a second circuit is completed indicating a gear-engaged state by movement of said neutral shaft, said switch system then providing a positive signal of both said neutral position and said gear-engaged position to said electronic control unit.