that long wire as you call it, is the capilary tube its filled with gas and monitors the temperature of the appliance, just pull it out, the thermostat terminals are numbered, just swoop the wires one at a time across to the new one, if the new stat has a longer capilary tube what ever you do, " DONT CUT IT " just curl it up near the stat control ( also when you buy the stat, it doesn't matter if your buy a universal, just make sure its for a freezer or it will run at the wrong temperture )
Hope This Helps - Foot
Foot
July 2009