The nuetral safety switch is an item that prevents cranking ------------------Nothing to do with the shift.---------------In my opinion those hydro-electric shift units are a thing of beauty, simple and reliable too.--------------When owners start guessing , fiddling with wires they usually blame the motor and not themselves.-----------It is spring loaded to be in forward gear ( no power to the solenoids whatsoever ) and if it does not go into forward there is a problem with the shift piston ( jammed into the bore ) or broken spring ( rare indeed )-----------------When the motor is stopped is it in forward gear ?????????