Ultraflex T85 Helm And M66 Steering Cable Heavy Duty Steering Bundle

The Ultraflex T85/T85W and M66 Heavy-Duty Steering Kit combines a compact mechanical rotary helm, an integrated black or white 90° dashboard bezel and an Ultraflex M66 steering cable in the selected length. Intended for selected outboard installations from 20–75HP, the system provides a 228mm / 9in cable stroke and approximately three steering-wheel turns lock-to-lock. 

Product Identification

• Brand: Ultraflex
• Product category: Mechanical marine steering helm, bezel and cable kit
• Black-bezel model: T85
• Black-bezel part number: 38439Z
• White-bezel model: T85W
• White-bezel part number: 39213M
• Steering cable: Ultraflex M66
• Cable length: Selected when ordering
• Bezel installation angle: 90°
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in taper
• Steering configuration: Heavy-duty single-cable rotary steering
• Listing application: Selected 20–75HP outboard installations

The T85 and T85W use the same mechanical helm design. The difference is the bezel colour and associated part number.

Which Kit Options Are Available?

• T85 38439Z: Black 90° bezel with selected M66 cable
• T85W 39213M: White 90° bezel with selected M66 cable

The cable is selected separately by length in one-foot increments.

What Is Included in the Kit?

• One Ultraflex T85-series mechanical rotary steering helm
• One integrated 90° bezel in the selected colour
• Helm mounting bracket
• Standard helm installation hardware
• Steering-wheel shaft key, washer and retaining nut
• Spent-cable protection tube and associated helm fittings
• One Ultraflex M66 heavy-duty steering cable in the selected length

What Is Not Included?

• Steering wheel
• Engine-specific steering connection kit or drag link
• Outboard steering-tube service parts
• Additional dashboard reinforcement
• Installation-specific fasteners not supplied with the helm
• Professional installation

The helm has a standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered shaft, but the compatible steering wheel must be purchased separately.

What Is This Steering Kit Used For?

The T85 helm converts steering-wheel rotation into push-pull movement through the included M66 cable. The cable then transfers the movement to the outboard engine steering assembly.

This kit is intended for:

• Leisure boats
• Fishing boats
• Work boats
• Single-outboard installations
• Selected outboards from 20–75HP
• Heavy-duty single-cable mechanical steering
• Dashboards where installation space is limited
• Dashboards requiring a 90° helm installation

The complete steering installation must remain within the lowest power, speed and load rating specified for the boat, engine and individual steering components.

Is the Steering Wheel Included?

No. The steering wheel is not included in this kit.

The T85 and T85W use a standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft. A compatible marine steering wheel must be ordered separately.

• Maximum steering-wheel diameter: 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth: 127mm / 5in

Confirm dashboard, instrument and control clearance before selecting a steering wheel.

Steering-System Performance

• Cable stroke: 228mm / 9in
• Steering-wheel movement: Approximately three turns lock-to-lock
• Minimum cable bend radius: 200mm / 7.9in
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter: 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth: 127mm / 5in
• Maximum boat speed: 50 knots / 57.5mph
• Steering configuration: Single mechanical cable
• Dashboard installation: 90°
• Helm orientation options: Eight positions at 45° intervals
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in taper

The eight helm orientations allow the M66 cable to enter from the most suitable direction for the available space behind the dashboard.

What Are the Features of the M66 Steering Cable?

• Heavy-duty mechanical steering-cable construction
• Durable black protective outer jacket
• Stainless-steel steering rod and eye
• Stainless-steel engine-side output components
• 7/8in-14 UNF threaded connection nut
• 228mm / 9in cable stroke
• Minimum bend radius of 200mm / 7.9in
• Length selection in one-foot increments
• Direct connection to the T85 and T85W helms

The 7/8in-14 UNF cable connection is separate from the helm’s 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft.

Does the M66 Cable Need an Adaptor?

No adaptor is required between the included T85 or T85W helm and the M66 cable.

The M66 is designed for direct use with the following Ultraflex steering helms:

• T85
• T85W
• T71FC
• T72FC
• T73NRFC
• T74NRFC
• T81FC
• T83NRFC

How Do You Select the Correct M66 Cable Length?

1. Measure the black outer cable jacket shown as dimension D in the measuring diagram.
2. Do not include the exposed steering rod, connection nut or metal end fittings.
3. Add approximately 2ft / 610mm to the measured jacket length.
4. Select the corresponding M66 cable length in feet.
5. Where the calculated result falls between two sizes, select the next longer whole-foot cable.

Replacement cable formula: Required M66 cable length = D + approximately 2ft.

Example: If the black outer cable jacket measures 10ft, add approximately 2ft and select a 12ft M66 cable.

This method is intended for replacing an existing steering cable. For new installations, measure the complete planned cable route and allow for gradual bends, dashboard clearance and unrestricted engine movement.

Construction and Compliance

• Compact mechanical rotary helm
• Corrosion-resistant helm materials
• Stainless-steel M66 steering rod
• Stainless-steel cable output components
• Heavy-duty black cable jacket
• T85/M66 system exceeds EN 28848 requirements
• T85/M66 system exceeds ABYC P17 requirements
• Standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft
• Direct M66 cable connection

Installation Notes

Maintain a minimum M66 cable bend radius of 200mm / 7.9in. Tighter bends increase steering friction and can reduce cable service life.

Route the cable away from:

• Sharp edges
• Heat sources
• Electrical wiring
• Moving engine parts
• Areas where the cable may be crushed
• Long unsupported cable runs

After installation, check that:

• The steering direction corresponds with the boat’s direction of turn
• The cable moves smoothly through its full stroke
• The engine reaches its complete steering range
• The steering system does not bind
• The helm and bezel remain securely mounted
• The steering-wheel shaft hardware is correctly tightened
• The engine-side steering connection remains secure

Important: Do not install the system on a boat that exceeds the boat manufacturer’s maximum horsepower rating or the permitted rating of any steering component. Marine steering is safety-critical and should be installed by a suitably competent marine technician.

Key Features

• Matched Ultraflex T85/T85W helm and M66 cable kit
• Choice of black or white 90° bezel
• T85 black-bezel part number 38439Z
• T85W white-bezel part number 39213M
• M66 cable supplied in the selected length
• Intended for selected 20–75HP outboard installations
• Heavy-duty single-cable rotary steering
• Compact design for restricted dashboard space
• Approximately three turns lock-to-lock
• 228mm / 9in cable stroke
• Minimum cable bend radius of 200mm / 7.9in
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter of 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth of 127mm / 5in
• Eight helm orientations at 45° intervals
• Standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered wheel shaft
• 7/8in-14 UNF cable connection
• Stainless-steel cable rod and output components
• Corrosion-resistant helm construction
• Exceeds EN 28848 and ABYC P17
• Engine connection kit not included
• Steering wheel not included