Ultraflex T71 Fast Connect Mid Feedback Heavy Duty Steering Helm

The Ultraflex T71FC 38867H is a compact, single-cable mechanical rotary steering helm with a planetary gear design. It is designed for the Ultraflex M66 steering cable and provides approximately 3.8 steering-wheel turns lock-to-lock with a 228mm / 9in cable stroke. A compatible 90° or 20° bezel and installation kit is required and sold separately.

Important supply note: This product is the standalone T71FC helm. The bezel kit, M66 steering cable, steering wheel and engine connection components are not included.

Product Identification

• Brand: Ultraflex
• Model: T71FC
• Manufacturer part number: 38867H
• Product category: Mechanical rotary steering helm
• Steering configuration: Single-cable mechanical steering
• Gear design: Planetary gear
• Feedback: Yes, with minimal feedback
• Direct steering cable: Ultraflex M66
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in taper
• Bezel requirement: Compatible 90° or 20° bezel kit
• Bezel included: No
• Applications: Outboard, inboard and power-assisted sterndrive steering systems

What Is This Steering Helm Used For?

The Ultraflex T71FC converts steering-wheel rotation into push-pull movement through a compatible M66 mechanical steering cable. The opposite end of the cable connects to the boat's engine, rudder or sterndrive steering mechanism.

The T71FC is intended for compatible:

• Outboard steering installations
• Inboard mechanical steering installations
• Power-assisted sterndrive installations
• Single-cable mechanical steering systems
• Helm stations with limited clearance behind the dashboard

The T71FC is not a hydraulic steering unit and does not accept rack-and-pinion steering cables.

How Does the Planetary Gear Design Work?

The T71FC uses three satellite gears that rotate around a central helm gear. This arrangement distributes steering load across three contact points rather than concentrating it through a single pinion.

The planetary design provides:

• More balanced steering loads
• Improved mechanical efficiency
• Increased system longevity
• Reduced engine feedback compared with conventional single-pinion rotary helms
• A compact installation for limited rear-dashboard clearance

The T71FC remains a feedback helm. It does not include the locking, non-reversible mechanism used by the T73NRFC.

What Is Included?

The standard T71FC package is identified as containing:

• One Ultraflex T71FC steering helm
• One cable-retrieving bushing
• One cable-retrieving or protection pipe
• Two M6 cable-retaining screws

Not included:

• 90° or 20° bezel kit
• Ultraflex M66 steering cable
• Steering wheel
• Engine connection kit
• Engine link arm
• Transom, splashwell or clamp-block mounting components
• Other installation-specific hardware

Which Steering Cable Is Compatible?

The manufacturer-specified cable is the Ultraflex M66 heavy-duty mechanical steering cable.

The M66 cable is sold separately and must be ordered in the correct length for the boat.

• Cable stroke: 228mm / 9in
• Minimum bend radius: 200mm / 7.9in
• Cable output ends: Stainless steel
• Number of cables used with T71FC: One

The cable stroke, bend radius and stainless steel output-end specifications apply to the M66 cable and complete steering system rather than the standalone helm housing.

Can the Multiflex SC-16 Cable Be Used?

Multiflex cross-references its SC-16 steering cable to the Ultraflex M66 cable family. Multiflex also cross-references its H1 Planetary 150 helm to the Ultraflex T71FC.

• Ultraflex M66 cross-reference: Multiflex SC-16
• Ultraflex T71FC cross-reference: Multiflex H1

The SC-16 should be treated as a cross-reference rather than an automatically approved substitute. Confirm the helm-end fitting, cable-retaining recess, cable travel, engine-side connection, length and warranty implications before mixing steering components from different manufacturers.

Which Steering Cables Are Not Compatible?

• Ultraflex M58
• Multiflex SC-18
• SeaStar Solutions / Teleflex SSC131
• Multiflex Lite 55 steering cables
• Rack-and-pinion steering cables
• Hydraulic steering hoses or components

The M58, SC-18 and SSC131 belong to a separate light-duty rotary steering-cable family.

Does the T71FC Need a Cable Adaptor?

No separate cable adaptor is identified for the standard T71FC and Ultraflex M66 combination.

The M66 cable is inserted into the helm and secured using the supplied M6 cable-retaining screws. Ultraflex specifies a tightening torque of 6Nm / 53in-lb for each screw.

When fitting a Multiflex SC-16, SeaStar/Teleflex SSC62 or another cross-reference cable, confirm the physical connection and any adaptor requirement before installation.

Which Bezel Kit Is Required?

The standalone T71FC requires one of the following bezel and dashboard installation kits:

• X34 – 36654B: Black bezel for 90° mounting
• X34W – 40654C: White bezel for 90° mounting
• X91 – 42850N: Chrome-plated bezel for 90° mounting
• X35 – 36655C: Black bezel for 20° mounting

Multiflex cross-references its B1B bezel to the Ultraflex X34 and its B2B bezel to the Ultraflex X35. Confirm mounting dimensions, supplied hardware and warranty implications before mixing brands.

Is a Bezel Included?

No. This listing is for the Ultraflex T71FC steering helm only.

A compatible X34, X34W, X91 or X35 bezel kit must be selected and purchased separately.

Which Steering Wheels Are Compatible?

The T71FC has a standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft.

It can accept compatible Ultraflex, Morse, Teleflex and other marine steering wheels provided that:

• The wheel has a standard 3/4in tapered hub
• The taper and keyway match the helm shaft
• The wheel diameter does not exceed 406mm / 16in
• The wheel clears the dashboard, instruments and controls
• The selected bezel provides the required mounting angle

Is the T71FC a No-Feedback Helm?

No. The T71FC is a standard feedback steering helm with a planetary gear design that provides minimal feedback.

It does not incorporate the patented non-reversible mechanism used by the T73NRFC. Propeller torque and steering load can therefore still be transmitted through the steering wheel.

• T71FC: Feedback helm with reduced feedback
• T73NRFC: Non-reversible or no-feedback helm

Is the T71FC Suitable for an Evinrude E-TEC 50?

Ultraflex compatibility information excludes the T67/M58 system from normal Evinrude E-TEC 50 applications and identifies the T85, T71FC or T91 as alternative steering systems.

Confirm the correct T71FC cable length, engine connection and complete system configuration before installation.

Steering Performance

• Steering-wheel turns: Approximately 3.8 turns lock-to-lock
• M66 steering-cable stroke: 228mm / 9in
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter: 406mm / 16in
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in taper
• Minimum steering-cable bend radius: 200mm / 7.9in
• Number of steering cables: One
• Feedback: Yes, with minimal feedback
• Bezel installation options: 90° or 20°
• Direct steering cable: Ultraflex M66

Construction and Design

• Compact mechanical rotary steering helm
• Planetary gear mechanism
• Three satellite gears distributing load around a central gear
• Fast-connect steering-cable installation
• Single-cable configuration
• Standard 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft
• Corrosion-resistant helm materials
• Reduced feedback compared with conventional single-pinion helms
• Designed for limited rear-dashboard clearance
• Compatible M66 cable uses stainless steel output ends
• Optional 90° and 20° bezel configurations

The stainless steel output-end specification applies to the separately purchased M66 steering cable, not to the standalone T71FC helm.

Maximum Horsepower and Boat Application

The T71FC must not be installed on a boat with an engine that exceeds the boat manufacturer's maximum horsepower rating or the rating of any steering-system component.

The maximum permitted application is determined by the lowest-rated component in the complete steering system.

The supplied product data lists the following boat-length guidance:

• Outboard applications: Maximum boat length of 9m
• Inboard and sterndrive applications: Maximum boat length of 10.5m

These supplier-stated boat-length figures should be confirmed for the specific hull, engine configuration, speed and steering load.

High-Speed Application Note

Published Ultraflex guidance differs between document editions. The current product page recommends hydraulic steering above 50mph, while the installation manual states that the T71FC must not be used above 50 knots / 57.5mph and advises the T72FC dual-cable system above that threshold.

Follow the current instructions supplied with the product and apply the stricter requirement where published guidance differs.

Standards and Compliance

• European steering standard: Exceeds EN 28848
• ABYC standard: Exceeds ABYC P17
• Construction: Corrosion-resistant materials
• Compatible M66 cable output ends: Stainless steel
• European marking: Components marked in accordance with Directive 2013/53/EU where applicable

Complete Steering Package Option

The T71FC is also available as part of the Ultraflex ROTECH packaged mechanical steering system, which combines the helm, bezel and M66 cable. The steering wheel is not included in the ROTECH package.

Installation and Safety

• Purchase the required 90° or 20° bezel kit before installation
• Select the correct M66 steering-cable length
• Confirm that the steering wheel has a standard 3/4in tapered hub
• Do not use a steering wheel larger than 406mm / 16in
• Do not disassemble the helm while fitting the cable
• Align the cable end-fitting recess with the retaining-screw hole
• Tighten each M6 cable-retaining screw to 6Nm / 53in-lb
• Maintain a minimum cable bend radius of 200mm / 7.9in
• Keep the cable away from sharp edges and heat sources
• Prevent dirt from contacting the exposed cable end
• Use a minimum 38mm / 1.5in bulkhead opening for the cable
• Secure and support the cable conduit along its route
• Confirm that wheel rotation produces the correct steering direction
• Test the system through its complete port-to-starboard travel
• Do not exceed the rating of the boat or any steering-system component
• Have the system installed by a competent marine technician

Key Features

• Ultraflex T71FC single-cable mechanical steering helm
• Manufacturer part number 38867H
• Compact planetary gear design
• Three satellite gears for balanced load distribution
• Fast-connect M66 cable installation
• Suitable for compatible outboard, inboard and power-assisted sterndrive applications
• Directly specified for one Ultraflex M66 cable
• Multiflex SC-16 cable cross-reference
• Multiflex H1 helm cross-reference
• Approximately 3.8 turns lock-to-lock
• 228mm / 9in M66 cable stroke
• 200mm / 7.9in minimum cable bend radius
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter of 406mm / 16in
• Standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft
• Feedback steering with reduced engine feedback
• Corrosion-resistant helm materials
• Compatible M66 cable has stainless steel output ends
• X34, X34W, X91 or X35 bezel required
• Bezel sold separately
• Exceeds EN 28848 and ABYC P17
• Steering cable, steering wheel and engine connection kit sold separately