Cub Cadet BIG COUNTRY 4X2, Service Manual

4 X 2 Gear Selector

16

1.5.

The 

electronic shift module

 (ESM) processes 

control inputs from the brake switch, neutral sen-
sor, and the gear selector buttons on the dash-
board. It figures out which way to move the 
shifting wedge to engage the desired gear. If a 
button is pushed, and the brake pedal is 
depressed, the ESM energizes the solenoids 
that control the vacuum to the servo that moves 
the shifting wedge. The ESM is mounted on the 
firewall, next to the brake pedal arm.               
See Figure 1.5.

1.6.

The 

solenoids

 are electrically operated valves 

that direct vacuum to one side of the servo or the 
other. The movement of the servo (vacuum actu-
ator) is what moves the shift wedge. They are 
mounted to the upper frame member at the for-
ward corner of the engine compartment, to the 
left hand side.                       See Figure 1.6.

1.7.

The solenoids are covered by a protective rub-
ber sheet.  To reach them, remove the two wing-
nuts that secure the plenum to the upper cross-
member, and carefully move the plenum aside. 
The cover can be “unbuttoned” from the tow top 
fasteners, and folded out of the way.                
See Figure 1.7.

1.8.

The vacuum line marked with a red dot car-
ries vacuum that moves the actuator in the 
“forward” direction

. This may be a movement 

from neutral to forward, it may be a movement 
from reverse to neutral, or it may be a movement 
from reverse, past neutral to forward. The ESM 
keeps track of which direction it is told to move 
the actuator and whether or not the detent in the 
shift wedge has passed the neutral sensor. The 
vacuum line with the 

red dot

 should connect to 

the 

solenoid nearest the outside

 of the vehi-

cle.  That solenoid 

(forward)

 has 

one red wire 

and

 one yellow wire with a black trace.

1.9.

The vacuum line marked with the green dot 
carries vacuum that moves the actuator in 
the “reverse” direction.

 This may be a move-

ment form Neutral to Reverse, it may be a move-
ment form Forward to Neutral, or it may be a 
movement from Forward, past Neutral, to 
Reverse.  The vacuum line with the 

green dot 

should connect to the middle solenoid.  The 

middle (reverse)

 solenoid has 

one red wire 

and

 one orange wire. 

Figure 1.5

Electronic
Shift
Module

Brake
pedal
arm

Figure 1.6

Bed latch

Plenum
(removed)

SOLENOIDS

Protective
cover

Push-in fasteners

Figure 1.7

Protective cover
in place over vacuum solenoids