autostick wiring puzzler

[sb001]

There is something that has always befuddled me a bit about the autostick wiring- specifically, the purpose of the 31 ground terminal on the neutral safety switch.

Take a look at this diagram from my Haynes manual:

It clearly shows that the wire from the contacts in the base of the shifter is connected to this 31 terminal on its way to the control valve in the engine bay.
But the contacts in the base of the shifter are what determine whether the control valve circuit is grounded or not (in neutral position they are separated apart so the ground circuit is broken and the control valve does not operate, then when you shift they rub together, completing the ground circuit and activating the control valve.)
So what is the point of this extra ground terminal on the safety switch that the circuit passes through?
My theory is that it is an added preventive measure to ensure that the clutch does not accidentally re-engage as you are passing through neutral shifting between gears (i.e. if the contacts in the shifter were to accidentally rub together, it grounds the circuit out before the signal can reach the control valve.) Can anyone confirm this? Thx
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[raydog]

I am guessing it is so you can not start the car with your hand on the shift lever. I am going back 20+ years here, I have limited experience with the autostick, but I seem to remember a feature like that

[sb001]

[raydog]

I guess what I am try to say is that it is not so much redundant. It is that once the shift is touched, both are activated or deactivated, without running a separate ground and using a more expensive switching mechanism. In this case, it really doesn't matter if both are grounded when the shifter is touched, it will either not start or it will shift. But it will not start if there is anyone touching shifter no matter what, in other words in gear.

[volksworld]

that ground in the switch disengages the clutch when the trans is in neutral... without it you could grind the gears if you try to jam it in gear too qiuckly....when its in gear the switch breaks the current through the big red wire to the solenoid...thats why it wont start.....as far as the car not starting if your hand is on the shifter....it wont start with your hand on the shifter cause if your hand is on the shifter you cant use it to turn the key, can you?

[sb001]

never mind, I found the answer, it was right in front of me in the same Haynes manual I scanned that diagram above. It confirms my assumption above:

_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor