Patent ID: 7600446

Claim:
A gearshift position detector for a vehicle powertrain unit, the powertrain unit comprising a crankcase and a crankcase cover, the powertrain unit further comprising a transmission housed within the crankcase, wherein a neutral indicator switch and a reverse indicator switch are affixed to the crankcase or to the crankcase cover, the transmission comprising: a shift drum, a skip-turn-prevention plate secured to an end of the shift drum, and an actuator member directly attached to the skip-turn-prevention plate, wherein the actuator member is adapted to selectively engage said indicator switches to indicate a neutral position or a reverse position of the transmission, wherein the neutral indicator switch and the reverse indicator switch are each provided with a movable contact portion and situated so as to be activatable by contact with a corresponding portion of the actuator member; and wherein the actuator member comprises a neutral switch actuator arm and a reverse switch actuator arm, and wherein the neutral switch actuator arm and the reverse switch actuator arm are disposed on opposite sides of the shift drum.