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The steering helm on my 74 montauk winged console is trash. I have seen reports of problems replacing the help with the standard. What is the recommended replacement helm?

Thanks.

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You have basically 3 choices.

1. Teleflex Safe-T II
2. Teleflex No Feedback
3. Teleflex Bay Star Hydraulic

There shouldn't be any problem installing any of these

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My concern was with height. I have a telefex helm on my other console now, but I have heard reports of people pinching their fingers between the steering wheel and the wing.

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I think I read that somewhere. Let me see if I research it.

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yes if you have a winged console you will need the teleflex big t. That is the only one built tall enough to clear the wings. the shorter helm will leave about a finger pincher between the wing and the wheel. They say that the hyd. steering units will also create enough height to clear the wing.

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Glad Bake chimed in since I could not find the info.

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Great, thanks for the information. Hydralic is too expensive for my budget, plus I can steer the boat easy enough with the teleflex.

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What type of helm do you have on there now?

I don't think the Big-T is available any longer. Otherwise I would have mentioned it in my post above. I used to have one on my 1978 Montauk.
You can still get parts for the Big-T but they aren't cheap.
http://www.teleflexmarine.com/cgi-bin...brary=1018

It would probably be cheaper and better in the long run to buy the Bay Star.
You can check out the dimensions of the helm below.
http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/BAYSTA...aystar.htm

Teleflex doesn't seem to give a dimension on the depth of the Big-T helm.
http://www.downloadingfiles.co.uk/tel...S-7413.PDF

The Bay Star helm is 3 15/16" in depth. I don't think the Big-T is deeper than that but I could be wrong.
Here is a photo below of the Big-T mounted on a 1973-1976 standard console.

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west marine shows the Big t avallible

2-Piece Big-T Bezel Kit, 211013 SB27268P Only $122.99 USD
Big-T Rotary Helm 275818 SH5000P Only $219.99 USD


I trimed my wings a bit to be able to use more common helm systems.
I have a used one in pretty good shape if you are intersted. Send me a email.

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Wow.

Let's price this out for the Big-T parts...

Helm = $220
Bezel Kit = $123
Steering Cable = $90
Total= $443


Bay Star Hydraulic System complete kit including hoses and oil = $500

I know which way I would go...

What would be nice to know is the depth of the Big-T helm as we already know the depth of the Bay Star helm.

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I will measure the one I have in the garage and post tomorrw.

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The measurement on the big t is as follows.
Bezel is 2 7/8" mabey 2 15/16" I just held a tape measure up
The steering shaft is just over 2 inches from the top of the bezel to the end of the shaft.

From the face of the console to the top of the steering shaft 5 inches.

The base of the wheel would be just above the top of the bezel. I measured a 15" wheel also. From the base of the wheel to the bottom of the steering ring is 3 1/2"

I also set the wheel on the helm. From the bottom of the bezel to the back of the wheel is 61/4"

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This is good information, thanks.

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It looks like the Bay Star will give you another inch of height which will give you more clearance for your fingers between the wheel and the wing.
From the photo I show in my post above, another inch of clearance would be very helpful.

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I didn't realize steering would be so steep. I think it would only be a couple hundred bucks.

I suppose a teak block behind the help would help too.