Patent ID: 7044260

Claim:
An off the road vehicle comprising: a frame; an engine operatively supported by said frame; at least a first ground engaging drive wheel operatively supported by said frame; a drive system for use in selectively driving said at least first ground engaging drive wheel, said drive system being operatively connected to said engine, said drive system including a transmission having a forward condition, a reverse condition and a neutral condition for driving said ground engaging wheel, said transmission having an actuator rod attached thereto for use in shifting the transmission between the forward, reverse and neutral conditions; a transmission control system comprising: (1) an operator actuated activating means; (2) a shift control mechanism that selectively receives an input from said activating means and selectively sends a corresponding output; (3) a vacuum actuator operatively connected to said shift control mechanism and operatively connected to said actuating rod; said vacuum actuator receiving said output from said shift control mechanism and adjusting said actuating rod to shift the transmission between said forward and reverse directions; and (4) a sensing mechanism, said sensing mechanism comprising a sensor detector and a sensor, the sensor detector being connected to said actuator rod so as to move with the actuator rod when shifting the transmission between the forward, reverse and neutral conditions, wherein the sensor detects when the sensor detector is in a neutral condition and when the sensor detector is not in the neutral condition.