Ultraflex T85 Heavy Duty Steering Helm With 90° Bezel

The Ultraflex T85 is a compact single-cable mechanical rotary steering helm supplied with a 90° dashboard bezel and mounting hardware. This listing is intended for selected outboard installations from 20 to 75HP. When used with an Ultraflex M66 steering cable, the system provides approximately three steering-wheel turns lock-to-lock, a 228mm / 9in cable stroke and compatibility with steering wheels up to 406mm / 16in in diameter.

Important application note: The 20–75HP figure is the application range stated for this listing. The Ultraflex installation manual does not give 75HP as a universal maximum for every T85 installation. It states that the system must not be used above the boat manufacturer's maximum horsepower rating or at speeds above 50 knots / 57.5mph. Final suitability depends on the boat, engine, cable and complete steering-system configuration.

Product Identification

• Brand: Ultraflex
• Model: T85
• Product category: Mechanical rotary steering helm and bezel kit
• Steering configuration: Heavy-duty single-cable mechanical steering
• Listing application: Selected outboard installations from 20 to 75HP
• Manufacturer drive applications: Outboard, inboard and power-assisted sterndrive
• Direct steering cable: Ultraflex M66
• Bezel: 90° mounting bezel
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered shaft
• Feedback: Yes
• Number of steering cables: One
• Maximum boat speed: 50 knots / 57.5mph
• Supplier-stated maximum boat length: 9m for outboards; 10.5m for inboard and sterndrive applications

What Is This Steering Helm Used For?

The Ultraflex T85 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 outboard, inboard or power-assisted sterndrive steering mechanism.

Its compact rotary design is particularly suitable for helm stations where clearance behind the dashboard is restricted. The helm can be fitted in eight orientations at 45° intervals, allowing the cable-entry direction to be selected according to the available installation space.

The T85 is a mechanical cable helm. It is not designed for:

• Hydraulic steering systems
• Rack-and-pinion steering cables
• Dual-station installations
• Twin-cable steering unless specifically engineered and approved
• Light-duty M58, SC-18 or SSC131 cable systems

What Is Included?

The Ultraflex T85 installation manual identifies the following package contents:

• T85 mechanical rotary steering helm
• Helm mounting bracket
• 90° dashboard bezel
• Dashboard and helm mounting screws
• Mounting washers and nuts
• Steering-wheel retaining nut
• Steering-wheel washer
• Woodruff shaft key
• Cable protection or spent-cable tube
• Cable bushing

Not included:

• Ultraflex M66 steering cable
• Steering wheel
• Engine connection kit
• Engine link arm
• Transom, splashwell or clamp-block mounting components
• Other installation-specific hardware unless expressly stated

The bezel and standard helm installation hardware are included, but the steering cable and steering wheel must be selected separately.

Which Applications Are Suitable?

This listing is intended for correctly specified mechanical steering installations including:

• Selected outboard engines from 20 to 75HP
• Small and medium powerboats requiring single-cable steering
• Helm stations with restricted space behind the dashboard
• Installations using an Ultraflex M66 cable
• Steering wheels up to 406mm / 16in in diameter
• Steering wheels no deeper than 127mm / 5in

The supplied product data states maximum boat lengths of:

• Outboard applications: 9m
• Inboard and sterndrive applications: 10.5m

These boat-length figures are application guidance rather than a substitute for checking steering load, engine configuration, boat speed and every component's rated capacity.

The official manual limits the system to the boat manufacturer's maximum horsepower rating and a maximum speed of 50 knots / 57.5mph.

Which Steering Cables Are Compatible?

The manufacturer-specified cable for the T85 is:

• Ultraflex M66 heavy-duty steering cable

Multiflex's cross-reference associates the M66 cable family with:

• Multiflex SC-16
• SeaStar Solutions / Teleflex SSC62

The SC-16 and SSC62 should be treated as cross-reference cable families rather than automatic confirmation of direct fit. Confirm the cable-end connection, retaining arrangement, travel, length and any adaptor requirement before mixing components from different manufacturers.

Which Cables Are Not Compatible?

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

The M58, SC-18 and SSC131 belong to the separate light-duty cable family used with helms such as the Ultraflex T67 and Multiflex H2 Lite 55.

Does the T85 Need a Cable Adaptor?

No separate cable adaptor is identified for the standard T85 and Ultraflex M66 combination. The M66 cable is inserted into the helm and retained using the helm's specified screw-and-nut arrangement.

When using a Multiflex SC-16, SeaStar/Teleflex SSC62 or another cross-reference cable, confirm:

• The cable has the correct helm-end connection
• The retaining recess aligns with the T85 fixing point
• The cable travel matches the installation
• The engine-side connection is correct
• The manufacturer permits the cross-brand combination
• Any required adaptor is present

Cross-reference equivalence does not automatically guarantee identical installation hardware or warranty coverage.

Is the T85 a No-Feedback Helm?

No. The supplied specification identifies the T85 as a feedback helm.

The description “minimal feedback” means the rotary mechanism is designed to limit the amount of steering load transmitted back through the wheel. It does not mean the helm has a non-reaction or no-feedback locking mechanism.

Engine torque may therefore still be felt through the steering wheel. A no-feedback or non-reaction helm is a different steering-system configuration.

Is the T85 Suitable for an Evinrude E-TEC 50?

The Ultraflex T67/M58 compatibility information excludes the Evinrude E-TEC 50 from the normal T67 application and identifies the T85, T71FC or T91 as alternative helm options. Confirm the exact T85 cable and engine connection arrangement before installation.

Steering Performance

• Steering-wheel turns: Approximately three turns lock-to-lock
• T85/M66 system cable stroke: 228mm / 9in
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter: 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth: 127mm / 5in
• Steering-wheel shaft: Standard 19mm / 3/4in taper
• Minimum steering-cable bend radius: 200mm / approximately 8in
• Maximum boat speed: 50 knots / 57.5mph
• Number of cables: One
• Feedback: Yes
• Helm mounting orientations: Eight positions at 45° intervals
• Bezel installation angle: 90°

The 228mm stroke and 200mm bend radius describe the compatible cable and complete T85/M66 system rather than the helm housing alone.

Construction and Design

• Compact mechanical rotary helm
• Corrosion-resistant helm materials
• Single-cable steering configuration
• 90° dashboard bezel
• Eight selectable cable-entry orientations
• Standard 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft
• Cable protection tube and bushing included
• Designed for installation where rear-dashboard clearance is restricted
• Smooth steering with reduced but not eliminated feedback

The stainless steel output-end specification applies to the compatible M66 steering cable. The steering cable itself is not included with this helm-and-bezel listing.

Standards and Compliance

• European steering standard: Exceeds EN 28848
• ABYC reference: M66 cable output ends manufactured in accordance with ABYC P17
• European directive: Ultraflex steering components marked in accordance with Directive 2013/53/EU

Is the T85 an Alternative to the Morse D290?

The supplied product information identifies the T85 as an alternative to the discontinued Morse D290 helm.

Treat this as replacement guidance rather than confirmation of a direct drop-in installation. Before replacing a D290, compare:

• Dashboard cut-out and mounting-hole pattern
• Steering-wheel shaft taper
• Existing steering-cable type
• Cable-retaining arrangement
• Available clearance behind the dashboard
• Engine-side steering connection

The supplied T85 drilling template should be used where the existing dashboard holes do not match.

Installation and Safety

The T85 should be installed using the supplied drilling template. The Ultraflex manual specifies:

• One central dashboard hole measuring 67mm / 2.64in
• Four mounting holes measuring 7mm / 0.28in
• Eight possible helm orientations at 45° intervals
• Minimum M66 cable bend radius of 200mm / 8in
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter of 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth of 127mm / 5in

During installation:

• Use the manufacturer's drilling template
• Select the most direct cable route with the fewest bends
• Do not route the cable through bends tighter than 200mm
• Keep the cable away from sharp edges and heat sources
• Do not disassemble the steering helm while fitting the cable
• Keep dirt and foreign material away from the exposed cable helix
• Secure and support the cable conduit along its route
• Confirm that steering-wheel rotation moves the boat in the correct direction
• Test the system through its complete port-to-starboard travel
• Check clearance with an outboard fully lowered and fully tilted
• Do not exceed the lowest rating of the boat, helm, cable or engine connection
• Have installation completed by a competent marine technician

Key Features

• Ultraflex T85 mechanical rotary steering helm
• Supplied with 90° dashboard bezel
• Listing application for selected 20–75HP outboards
• Suitable for outboard, inboard and power-assisted sterndrive systems when correctly specified
• Compact design for restricted installation space
• Designed for one Ultraflex M66 steering cable
• Multiflex SC-16 and SeaStar/Teleflex SSC62 cross-reference cable family
• Approximately three turns lock-to-lock
• 228mm / 9in steering-cable stroke
• Standard 19mm / 3/4in tapered steering-wheel shaft
• Maximum steering-wheel diameter of 406mm / 16in
• Maximum steering-wheel depth of 127mm / 5in
• Minimum steering-cable bend radius of 200mm / 8in
• Eight helm mounting positions at 45° intervals
• Feedback steering system with minimal feedback
• Corrosion-resistant helm construction
• Compatible M66 cable uses stainless steel output ends
• Exceeds EN 28848
• M66 output-end construction references ABYC P17
• Supplier-stated alternative to the discontinued Morse D290
• Steering cable and steering wheel supplied separately