FAQs For Teleflex Mechanical Steering

Are replacement gears available for Teleflex helms?

No. Teleflex does not offer repair parts for any steering helms or cables. All helms and cables must be replaced as units. If the helm in question is within our 2-year warranty period, we will authorize a free replacement helm (not including labor). At tempting to repair a helm will void the warranty and can lead to steering failure, which may result in personal injury and property damage.

How do I know which length steering cableI need?

The steering cable part number and length can usually be found about 2 feet from the helm connection, stamped into the plastic conduit (exterior jacket or casing). If you can't locate/read it, proceed to step a.

a. Is the cable you are replacing rotary (spiral wrapped black core wire sticks out at helm end of cable) or rack and pinion (cable has long metal housing with rack [flat] gear inside)? Measure the Existing Cable as Follows: Measure the cables plastic jacket (casing)in inches.
If rotary, add 18in, and round up to the next foot. If rack & pinion, add 30in and round up to the next foot. Order that length cable.

b. Are you doing a first-time steering cable installation? Measure Cable Routing Path in Boat as Follows: A = Center line of wheel to gunwale (inches),
B = Dash to transom (inches),
C = Gunwale to cable connection at centered tiller (inches). For Tilt Tube Mounting, add A, B & C + 6in, then round up to the next whole foot. Order that length cable. For Transom/ Splash-well Stringer Support Mounting, add A, B & C, then subtract 6in and round up to the next whole foot. Order that length of cable.

What do I need in order to add another steering station to my boat?

Teleflex Big-T is the only mechanical steering system with a version designed for dual station boats. This specialized product cannot be added on to any existing steering system. Sea-Star hydraulic steering is the preferred choice for dual station boats.

I just bought a steering kit and I would like to add a friction screw to the system, but none was included with the kit. What should I do?

Friction adjustment is not a standard item in our steering kits and is not available for Rotary Systems. If you have installed a non-tilt Back Mount RackHelm, order Friction Kit part number 3953114P.
NOTE-If you have any NFB system (Rack or Rotary), a friction adjustment device is not required or recommended

I just bought a steering kit and I would like the steering shaft to be at an angle to the dash. The bezel kit included in the steering kit only allows a perpendicular mount. Which parts do I need?

The standard Bezel (mount) Kit included with the steering system allows the helm to be installed at 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the surface of the dash. Optional Bezel Kits for Rotary Steering systems provide the ability to mount the helm at 20 degrees from perpendicular. The Rack and Pinion system uses Wedge Kits that provide 10 and 20 degree angles. For Rotary Steering (Safe-T, NFB Safe-T II or 4.2), order 20degrees Bezel Kit part number SB27483P. For Rack and Pinion Steering (NFB, Non-NFB, and Pro Rack), order: 10 degree Wedge Kit part number SB27448P or 20degree Wedge Kit part number SB27449P

I need to replace the steering system on my boat, but I looked at the back of the helm and saw it was not made by Teleflex. I want to install a Teleflex system, but how do I know which one I should get?

Generally, replace rotary with rotary, rack & pinion with rack & pinion and hydraulic with hydraulic.
Rotary helm gearboxes are round in shape. Rack & pinion helms are tubular and connect to a long, thin metal rack housing. The following is a brief cross reference for the most popular non-Teleflex systems.

  • Morse Command 290 Rotary: use Teleflex Safe-T QC for power-assisted or NFB 4.2 Rotary for non-power-assisted. (Some Morse Command 290 products are still available.)
  • Morse Command 200 Rack: use Teleflex Back Mount Rack for power-assisted or NFB Rack for non-power-assisted.
  • Morse Command 2 Rotary: use Teleflex HPS or Big-T for power-assisted or NFB Safe-T II or 4.2 for non-power-assisted.

A comprehensive steering interchange listing (with illustrations of helms and cables) for
Teleflex, Morse and other brands begins on page 12 of this catalog

I need a link arm to connect the steering cable output ram to the tiller of my outboard. Can I get the link arm from Teleflex?

No. You should obtain this link arm from the engine maker. Link arms vary by engine, and the engine maker offers the correct link arm for your particular brand and model.

I would like to upgrade the steering in my boat to Tilt Steering. What steps do I need to take?

First determine the brand of steering in your boat, then whether it is mechanical or hydraulic.

If you do not have Teleflex steering, either:

a. Replace the helm and cable (or hoses and cylinder) with a Teleflex system or

b. Contact the steering maker for options. Tilt steering is not available for all systems.

If you have Teleflex rotary steering that was made after 1991 or rack steering made after
1996, you probably only need to purchase a Tilt helm and Tilt mechanism.

Determine which kind of Teleflex steering you have, then refer to the appropriate section of this catalog for Tilt Dash Module or Tilt Helm part number.

Tilt helms are offered for these Teleflex systems.

  • Safe-T QC (1968-present)
  • The Rack Rack & Pinion (1996-present)
  • Big-
  • NFB (1991-present)
  • HPS (2000-present)
  • SeaStar & SeaStar PRO (1991-present)
  • BayStar (2001-present)

NOTE- Some pre-1991 Hydraulic, pre-1991 Rotary and pre-1996 Rack systems may require
purchase of additional items and/or modification of the dash. Please see The Tilt Steering product pages, earlier in this catalog or contact Tech Support for assistance.

(Tilt helms have a special shaft to engage the Tilt mechanism; a non-Tilt helm cannot be used).

What size steering wheel should I use?

Teleflex does not make specific recommendations regarding steering wheel size, except that the wheel be at or below the maximum wheel diameter noted for each type of helm and that the wheel is sized/ located so it can be rotated freely by the boat operator through the entire steering arc with no obstruction or hindrance to movement. Wheels in the 14in diameter range are used widely with mechanical steering systems. Any size wheel may be used so long as the helms recommended maximum wheel diameter is not exceeded and steering effort is acceptable.

An equidistant-spoke steering wheel is suggested for hydraulic steering systems since a certain amount of oil bypass in the helm will gradually result in the wheel becoming not centered when the engine/drive/rudder is in the straight ahead position. Again, please note the maximum wheel diameter recommended for the helm.

NOTE- For mechanical steering, please note the maximum wheel diameter listed for each product earlier in Mechanical Steering section of this catalog. For Hydraulic systems, maximum wheel diameter is listed for each helm in the SeaStar/ BayStar/ Hynautic Helm Specifications chart in the Hydraulic Steering Tech Reference section.

I have a [model/year] boat and [model/year] engine. How do I hook up my steering cable to the engine?

There are many ways to connect a steering cable to an engine, drive unit or rudder. For outboards, the most common connection method is fastening the steering cable to the engine tilt tube and attaching a link arm from the engines tiller arm to the cross-hole in the steering cables telescopic ram. Generally, it is best to replace what was originally installed with similar components whenever possible. When that is not feasible in a mechanical steering installation, consider upgrading to SeaStar.

NOTE- For an overview of the basic types of steering connections and available components from Teleflex Marine, please see Steering Connection Kits Overview and Teleflex Steering connection kits, on previous pages.

My steering cable is stiff or stuck and wont move properly when I turn the wheel. What should I do?

The first step is to isolate the problem components of the steering system. Several factors can lead to what feels like a stiff or frozen steering cable. If you do not have installation instructions for the systems cable and helm, contact Teleflex (or other manufacturer, if appropriate) to obtain them. Also, have your engine and boat owners manuals handy.

The following troubleshooting sequence is suggested, during which the steering wheel should remain on the helm.

a. Is the steering cable in fact stiff/frozen?

Carefully disconnect the steering cable from the link arm, tiller arm or rudder post arm. (Refer to installation instructions for that steering system and boat/engine owners manual.) From the helm, attempt to turn the steering wheel in both directions by hand to ensure that it moves freely through its prescribed steering arc. Also, check the hardware that connected the cable to the engine/drive/rudder for signs of binding, excessive free play, corrosion, deterioration and/or incorrect assembly. If everything does move freely and is in good working order, go to step b.

Steering cables cannot be repaired. If the steering cable is deteriorated, does not move or operates in any manner other than correctly, replace it with the correct one for the helm. If the cable for your helm is no longer available, replace the helm, bezel and cable with an appropriate Teleflex steering kit. If any cable connection part is deteriorated, too stiff or too loose, replace it with the correct type of component. Teleflex offers most types of cable connection hardware, except link arms which should be obtained from the engine manufacturer. Note that locking fasteners are used on connection components. Do not substitute non-locking fasteners as this may lead to steering failure.

b. Is the helm stiff/frozen?

With the steering cable disconnected from the link arm, tiller arm or rudder post arm, disconnect
the cable from the helm. (Refer to installation instructions for that steering system.) From the helm, attempt to turn the steering wheel in both directions by hand to ensure that it moves freely through its prescribed steering arc. If everything does move freely and is in good working order, go to step c. If the wheel does not move, replace the helm and bezel kit. If the helm and bezel are no longer available, replace helm, bezel and cable with an appropriate Teleflex steering kit.

c. Does the engine/drive/rudder pivot freely through its entire arc from port to starboard?

With the steering cable disconnected from the link arm, tiller arm or rudder post arm, move the engine/ drive/rudder back and forth by hand to ensure that it moves freely through its prescribed steering arc. If it does not move or is extremely stiff, have proper maintenance or repairs done. If it does move freely, then check for obstructions that may have beenlimiting engine movement and/or revisit steps a-b.

The information provided here has been reproduced courtesy of Teleflex. Wholesale Marine reproduced this information 08/11/2009