TOPIC: Homemade switches?

Well, I opened up my DR helm control. And found no switches, just the cable hardware, start button with spring and shaft. My last post in 'dist adj.' explains how it was wired by PO. First thoughts are: Fabricate a linkage from the geared rack that pulls the cable, to a homemade swich (with brushes for contact). This would have one length of contact for forward start (Yellow wire), gap in center for "neutral" ( wired like kill switch), then a length of contact for reverse start (green wire). With lengths of linkage adjusted for the adjustable detents in the housing and lever. Would like any input as to fesability ( need spell check ) and engineering comments. One last question that has me wondering if I read the wiring diagram right. The light blue wire runs from the choke terminal through "pilot light" to black. Black is ground? So, pilot light luminates when switch is in choke position? Also. Why does light blue also run to both forward and reverse switches?