I have the castle link software and USB cord that i use with my mamba max. I just got my sidewinder back from castle being repaired (was broken when i purchased it in a truck), so now i have new ESC and ready to start programming like i did with my MM. i have that little plug thing that seems to adapt the USB cord to the sidewinder. does that plug into the wire that normally goes into the receiver? I couldn't find a how-to online

it's this one

Yes, the USB cable plugs into one end of the link into the gold socket (fem) and the male connection is for the esc lead. The orig link had a fem esc lead soldered to that piece of pcb.

If its the same as my old one, the pin on the top as you show it would be the orange, pin on bottom would be the brown on the esc.