Oka owners group newsletter

For anyone who is interested in coming along, we are planning a trip to leave here on July11, and are planning to go by Wilcannia, Menindee, Broken Hill, to Ceduna & Goog’s track, then to the Flinders Ranges and home by Innaminka, Tibboburra, White Cliffs and home. If you would like to join us for all or part of this trip, you would b e very welcome. We will be travelling with a couple of friends in various 4x4’s.

We are also planning a kind of rally for OKA’s on the October Long Weekend, (1^st one in October). If we meet here, Lloyd is consulting with a local ranger to see if we can camp somewhere in the Macquarie Marshes, and then, we hope Noel Peterson will find us a place to stay at Grawin, a little opal place west of Lightning Ridge. We could be away as long as a week (providing the drought is truly over by that stage). We will let you know more about it as the time comes closer, but keep it in mind.

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Noel Peterson tells me that he and Leslie plus a lot of other people were standing on the rim of Wolfe Crater, when he was approached by a gentleman who asked, “Are you the Oka Owner?” Noel of course asked how he knew. “Oh, you look like an OKA Owner” he replied.

Could someone please tell us what is so special about an OKA Owner that they stand out in a crowd?

So far we have found it very easy to compile a newsletter. Please keep the information coming in – it is sure to be interesting to everyone else Email makes it simple to spread information or find an answer to a problem, and we will continue to repeat these in the Newsletter. We have sent out OKA badges to those who supplied an address, but if you missed out and would like one, let us know where to send them and we will put one in the post. Ron Quigley reports that he has located an OKA door to add to his planned camper. We passed on a request when we mailed the OKA badges.

Gordon Rowlinson is at home recovering after a heart by-pass operation. Ron Quigley is also home again after a stint in hospital – they aren’t sure yet just what was wrong, but he is improving. We’d like to wish you both a speedy recovery.

Lloyd & Marj Parsons

Easter - Anzac weekend close-to-Sydney Mountain Tour.

Vehicles - Michael & Virginia Hession's Oka multi-cab with loaded tray & covered canapy, No 160 & friends Rob & Liz. Michael being "Tour Captian"

John & Jackie 's Land Rover

Warwick & Beryl Oliver 's Oka bus - camper No 30

1st night, joining many fellow campers at Dingo Flat, via Kowmung track. from Kanangra Rd, due to camping ground at Boyd river sprouting the obligity National Parks logged off camping areas!

On to Yerranderie via Oberon – Colong stock route for 2 nights. Great free camp at "Government town", admission fee to "Private town " allowing inspection of old silver mining suites & cemetery. Then onto Limeburners Rd, joining Wombeyan Caves Rd to Mittagong.

Staying 2 nights at Moss-Vale caravan park after dropping Rob & Liz off at Mittagong railway station, farewelling bus off in Americian movie style due to buses replacing trains due to Managle bridge repairs!

Michael becoming "Coach Captain & Tour Guide", with all members riding in his vehicle to visit Fitzroy Falls & surrounds. Next goal is Abercombie River N.P., via Taralga. the main entrance to park being from Oberon-Goulburn Rd. Park map obtained from box at entrance. After travelling various trails from north to south of park chose Silent Cr campsite.

4x4ing - well maintained N.P. trails, many of their "water off +" humps, many steep descents & ascents - taken in 1st gear with torque to spare. Only one sharp acute corner, requiring 2 attemps by one vehicle.

Mechanics -No 160 appeared to develop steering- damper shudder later in trip.

No 30's 825x16 Lt tyres appeared OK, it's large turning circle was explained on comparing the 2 vehicles revealed different steering boxes!

Social - Small but economical camp fires, board games, one dinner at Services Club, good company . Weather -Threatening rain for whole period, but little throughout, with each day improving. Reported 3 degrees at caravan park, we did not think it this low!

Campgrounds - Dingo Flat : Large area, high & low areas to choose. Pit toilet.

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Yerranderie : Large area in "Goverment town", 4 new inviro' pit toots, drinking water from rainwater tanks. Fee camping in "Private town", hot showers & cabin bunks in a couple of the restored buildings

Silent Cr : Largish area with new pit toilet boarding creek. Camping free at present.

Newnes Weekend 3/4 May 2003

Owners in attendance

! Jim and Julie Curtin – Dual Cab Camper

! Bob and Sue Etherington – Station Wagon

! Michael and Virginia Hession – Multi Cab

! Owen Jones - Twin Cab Camperhome

! Warwick and Beryl Oliver – Bus Camperhome

! Lloyd and Marj Parsons – Single Cab Slide-on Camper ! Ron and Lyn Quigley – Dual Cab

Written by Michael Hession

This was the first official trip for the OKA Owners Group, and it was great to see 7 enthusiastic owners turn up. We met in the car park of the Zig Zag Railway at Clarence, just outside of Lithgow NSW. Everyone introduced themselves, and already the “stories” were beginning to be told. Warwick and Beryl related how they decided to get an early start and travel up to the mountains on Friday, camp over night and be early to the meeting place at 9.00am the next morning. They found a very nice spot just off the road, got set up and cooked dinner, sat around relaxing until it was time to go to bed. Then Warwick discovered that they had left behind all their sleeping gear. So back to Terry Hills, had a cup of tea, fed the cat, and back up the mountains, arriving back at camp at 2.15am. But they did make it to the meeting site by 9.00am.

Bob led everyone via the Old Bells Line of Road onto the Newnes Plateau, our first stop was at Bald Hill. A trig station with 360 degree views, the top of the hill was ringed with OKAs. We next visited the Lost City, fascinating rock formations. The track has now been closed off for the last 300M, since our last visit. We parked our vehicles and went for a look, climbing to the highest point for the best view.

After leaving the Lost City we travelled along the Sunnyside Track onto a side track that led down to a creek. The map actually shows the track as stopping on a ridge, then the creek and on the other side another track commencing. But the two tracks have now been joined. We travelled a little way down the track to the creek over some rough rock steps. It was at this point that Jim decided to reverse up a steep rock ledge he had just come down. No trouble! Except that there was a loud bang and he broke his near-side drive universal. Luckily Bob had a spare. So after we had all had lunch, Jim started on the job of dismantling the front passenger axle assembly, off with the brakes, hub and out with the axles. It was a team effort with chocking the vehicle, assessing the damage, jacking, dismantling, standing around watching what was happening. “Field Repairs”- this wasn’t on the agenda but everyone, well at least the boys, were happy to be learning something about their OKAs.

Not to be out done Bob continued down the rock steps showing Warwick the way down. He decided to reverse and BANG! This time the off-side free-wheeling hub decided “enough was enough”. After assessing the problem, Bob decided he would continue with 3 wheel drive, his vehicle has front and rear ARB locking diffs.

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As the work continued on Jim’s vehicle, Bob continued along the track. We followed his progress by radio. At the third creek crossing Bob came on the radio to say he was stuck and was going to winch himself clear. By this time three other four wheel drives had arrived and started down the way we were going, there was some bumps and scrapes as they negotiated the hill. But then we could hear a lot of wheel spinning, stop, more wheel spinning, stop, etc. Upon investigation one of the three vehicles, a Nissan Pathfinder was hung-up on his chassis with front and rear wheels in the air. His mates tried to winch him clear, only to succeed in winching the winch vehicle towards the stranded vehicle. No problem, just hook another vehicle on the rear of the winch vehicle. So now they winched two vehicles to the stranded vehicle. They were getting nowhere. By this time I had my vehicle behind the stranded vehicle and with a strong chain and a little bit of OKA power, we pulled him off backwards. Then after some road building he was able to get through.

Just as Jim was mobile again and we were going to continue, a Landcruiser appeared on the track from the opposite direction. He was leading a convoy of 10 vehicles. This at a position on the track where there was very little room for passing. Luckily we were just able to get our 6 vehicles off the track enough to let them through. And so we continued on.

We had three very interesting creek crossings with the track over hung with vegetation. It was real Indiana Jones country. I was in front now as Bob had gone on ahead. As I came around a bend and through a cutting I was confronted with a very steep hill and Bob half way up getting his winch out. He was stuck - as he had only three wheels that could drive and he had disabled his rear locking diff (to allow for some steering control) and he had also forgotten to engage his front locker to have at least one front wheel turning. In fact, he was attempting the hill in rear wheel drive with an open diff and so he was stuck. After some winching over the worst area and realising that he hadn’t engaged his front locker, he was able to get some traction and drive the rest of the way up. The rest of us had two choices straight up the middle over some largish rocky steps with reasonable traction or to the right on a “smoother” loose dirt track. Some took the steps, others the “loose” section. Everyone made it with no real dramas or problems. I think everyone was reasonably impressed with how their OKAs handled the conditions

Just as Lloyd arrived at the base of this climb, there was a bang from under his vehicle and he lost his clutch pedal. It was diagnosed as a broken cable. So without a spare, Lloyd decided to push on and look at it when we got to camp. So he had to start in gear and keep going up the above hill and along the track and then onto the road, in all he had to travel about 35km without a clutch, just changing on the move. He seemed to do this very well, even if the journey was a little slower than it normally would have been.

The journey into the Wolgan Valley is quite spectacular especially late in the afternoon with the sun shining on the sheer sandstone cliffs. The valley was beautiful and green, after recent rain, wallabies and cattle were seen. It is really one of Australia’s hidden treasures. The camping area at Newnes is at the end of the road and is truly a special place. We set up camp on a green grassy flat overlooking the creek. Soon there where tents set up, food readied and two fires side by side raging. Ron was the “official” fire builder (or should that be “bug”). It was a great night around the fire, and it was still going the next morning after a little encouragement from Ron.

After breakfast the “repair class” convened on Lloyd’s vehicle with people underneath, in the cab, pulling out the lights and off with the front body assembly, etc. Everyone seemed to have a go. We were certainly learning a lot. After much effort the broken cable was extracted. It seems some moisture and dirt had got in some time ago and started rusting the cable, so it was only time before it

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was due to break. After trying a number of ideas to get a functioning clutch, Warwick came to the rescue. He had some stainless steel cable and clamps and Bob donated a stainless steel turnbuckle from his jerrycan hold downs. And so Lloyd ended up with a functioning fully adjustable clutch “better than brand new”.

While all this was going on Sue handed out photocopies of the Newnes Ruins track and the Glow Worm Tunnel for everyone’s information. Unfortunately, due to “all the fun” we had been having, we didn’t have time to enjoy. A good excuse, for us to come back again. Bob also handed out some literature about HF Radio and gave a talk and demonstration of the benefits of HF for the remote traveller. It was very informative and filled in some gaps in peoples’ knowledge and experience. Bob also showed us his emergency HF radio back up. I think he said he paid only a few hundred dollars for it. This is a complete functioning radio in an aluminium box complete with battery, line aerial, cord and weight (for getting the aerial up in a tree), instructions and list of frequencies. This travels under the seat closest to the rear passenger door held in by one over centre latch. So that in an emergency, fire, roll-over, submerged, he can quickly grab his back up set and so be able to get help in this situation. In a real emergency affecting your vehicle, the vehicle mounted radio may be rendered inoperative and so your life could depend on your back up radio, especially if you travel solo. A friend of ours travelling the Tanami Track, got into some loose dirt and before he knew it he had rolled, completely destroying his antenna, luckily he was not travelling alone and his travelling companions were able to seek Flying Doctor advice and organise for repairs etc.

After lunch the vehicles were lined up for “a photo opportunity”. Owen had to leave early to get home, with the rest of us leaving around 3pm and travelling back up the Valley to Blackfellow Hands Cave. This is a large overhanging rock with many aboringinal hand stencils, of many different sizes, clearly displayed. After saying our goodbyes we set off for home

But it wasn’t long before we had all pulled up on the side of the road, Lloyd’s vehicle “had the shakes”. This was determined as an “iffy” steering damper. As it was now quite cold, “freezing” in fact, we were glad to be on the road and heading home.

Well, what a weekend. It will become one of those trips that will grow around future campfires. It was a weekend that legends are made of and only those who were there will know the real truth. For our “First Official OKA Owners Trip” we could not have asked for more perfect weather, spectacular scenery, true adventure, some misadventure, creative engineering, good food and drink, great camp site, blazing fires and most importantly some great people to share it with. We had a truly great weekend and I would like to thank Bob and Sue for the effort they put in, and we look forward to the next one.

Transfer Case Oils:

Hi Lloyd

Heard u had an interesting week end at Newnes.

Our Bre trip didn’t go so well. We had a medical emergency on the banks of the Barwon river on Brirery station. My old mate collapsed and slipped into semi consciousness. He is a big man of about 110kg and we had difficulty lifting him into my LandCruiser. I drove 90km to Walgett hospital where he was air lifted to Dubbo hospital. We stayed at Bre for a couple of days before heading back home. Visited him in Dubbo on the way. At that time doctors weren’t sure what was up so he had to stay there for a few more days.

I went back to Dubbo a couple of days later and picked him up and drove him home to Ulladulla. It

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turns out that he had a severe verdigo attack. Didn’t think they could be so severe. He is still a bit wobbly and undergoing more medical tests.

Briery was a picture. I have never seen it so green in the 40 years I have been going there. There was surface water on the place and the creeks had nice long water holes. Surprisingly we only saw a small number of kangaroos and no emus compared to our October trip.

Had a fright in the OKA on mother’s day. Noticed a great puddle of hydraulic oil at the front of the vehicle. Had to drive 10km home with a great oil slick following me. Turned out to be a loose hydraulic line to the power steering. It was finger loose. I tightened it and refiled the tank and all seems well.

We leave for our Kimberly trip on 7th June. Still doing all sorts of things to the OKA. Do u know what oil I should use in the transfer case?

Stay well

Vidas

Dear Vidas,

Received your email. Sorry to hear your trip didn't go so well. I have heard of a few cases of severe vertigo lately. Hope your mate is OK.

Lloyd uses Shell Rimula X Oil 30 in his transfer case, but the page from our Service Manual for recommended lubricants states Castrol CRF 30, SAE 30 to APICD/SF. Whatever that means. It holds 2 litres.

If you ask your fuel/oil supplier and give him those specs, he will be able to match it to other brands. We also use Rimula X engine oil, which we use in all our farm engines, but it is different to the transfer case one.

If your vehicle is an XT and you need information we can probably fax you the relevant pages (if you have access to a fax). I understand OKA charge big money for a new Service manual. We don't have a parts manual but this gives good diagrams etc.

Have a great time on your Kimberley trip. We had planned to go to Kalumbaru this year, but will go next year instead. We intend to travel up Goog's Track in SA in July, and take another look at the Flinders Ranges.

Lloyd & Marj Parsons

Thanks for the reply.

We own an LT, build number 262. I phoned OKA in West Oz re transfer case oil. They said any 30 grade oil is ok but they specify Castrol CRF 30.

I will look forward to your Googs trip report as I would like to do it also. I love the Flinders. Hope the weather is kind to you.

Stay well

Vidas

AIR FILTERS

Hi There.

Just got the latest newsletter and read about trying to get part numbers for air filters. We use Donaldson

P133765 outer and Donaldson P136401 inner.

Also the Low range shift was a problem with ours as well and it turned out that the lever itself had seized. We had to take the gear shift panel out and pulled the shift apart and this freed it up considerably.

Cheers Simone Conklin

UNIVERSALS

Jim Curtis has been doing some research into universals, and has come up with a company who will

stand by the OKA Group. He has found a beefed up universal with a grease nipple, that will fit the front

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steer, also universals for the drive shafts. All the crew that were on the Newnes tri ordered some of these to carry in their tool boxes. If you would like to discuss this with Jim, give him a call. Telephone: [phone] or 0418222546. Email: [e-mail] .

STEERING DAMPER

I rang GLENN LYSAGHT from POWERDOWN (Specialise in truck shock absorbers)

PHONE [phone] and the information is below. Bob Etherington says his has been good, but

there maybe better ones don't know? Price seems reasonable. PART NUMBER IS SS2716

This is their Light Truck Unit. They have bigger ones for semi-trailers, would need to see if they fitted FOR A PRICE CALL · TRUCKLINE (As at 12.05.03 price was $99.54 GST incl.)

· SX TRAILERS OR · ANY MACK-IVECO-MERC-KENWORTH DEALER Michael

Note: Wheel shudder seems to be a pretty common problem with OKA’s, but we learnt from Bob Etherington during the Newnes weekend that these Powerdown steering dampers are installed by Rob Clarke on OKAs at Alice Springs. We installed a Monroe in ours last year, and it is definitely no longer doing the job! We plan to try the Powerdown. They also have a website. Lloyd & Marj

RIMS

A while back I had a set of 16 inch, one-piece rims made, the reason being that they are a bit lighter, which should cut down on under-spring weight, should be a bit easier to balance than the split rims, and give the choice of running on tubeless tyres that run cooler or with tubes. I haven’t used them yet – I’m still trying to wear out the old tyres!

Ron Quigley has just had a set made by Mullins Wheels (who also made mine) for 17.5 inch tyres. Ron was told that there is, or will be, a greater choice of tyres in the 17.5” range.

And of course, there are plenty of 19.5” tyres around.

Lloyd

FUEL TANK CAP

My fuel tank cap leaks, but no so with Gordon Rowlinson’s cap. Gordon has developed a modification which fixes this problem, and I will be talking to him about it. True of false I don’t know, but I have been told that these caps are the same that are on the Land Rover Defender.

A very pleasing aspect of the Oka Group is that they are a great group of people willing to share their findings with us all, which saves us each trying to reinvent the wheel. For our own use, we plan to put all the technical tips into a folder, then if we want some info we can go straight to it.

FOR SALE

1995 Model LT

OKA 4 x 4 POP-TOP MOTORHOME

Bus body Vin 306 Ex- Police paddy wagon Colour – White 195,000klm No beach work

No rust Mechanically very sound

No panel damage

Current registration OKA-001 [Qld] Registered to August 2003

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I have owned the vehicle since July ’99 and I converted it to a full-length pop-top (aluminium) camper van in May 2000. It is fitted out for two people and includes a permanently set up double bed [storage under - access from outside rear], 4 burner gas stove grill and oven, 2 x 4.5kg Gas bottles [external], 120 lt 12V/240V Fridge [Danfoss compressor], 1 x 80lt & 2 x 60lt S/steel Water tanks, Sink, 150W Inverter, 2 x 80W Solar panels and Lyncom 20 Amp regulator/ controller, Smart regulator (Ample Power), 130AH deep cycle house battery, separate start battery, 1 2 both isolating switch, 12,000 lb Warn electric winch, air compressor and reserve tank, o/head console containing both UHF & HF (Codan 9323 and auto tune aerial) radios, EPIRB, Fiama 4 mtr Roll out awning, 2nd spare tyre carrier (removable), fly screens and curtains on all windows, heaps of storage drawers, car radio/cassette in camper section with own aerial, Lock-right rear diff., free wheel hubs, 8 x Munroe “Magnum” shock absorbers, factory tinted windows, 2 x 105 lt fuel tanks, towbar, 2 x Spotlights, sun visor, bull-bar and currently running as new 900 x 16 Michelin XY tyres [5] (on road) and 60% 900 x 16 Michelin XZL [6] (off road), photos available on request

CONTACT Gordon & Laurel Rollinson 44 Petrie Street

MACKAY QLD 4740

Ph: 07 49511631 [e-mail] PRICE $115,000.00 Negotiable Airfare refundable on purchase of vehicle

OR Free delivery of vehicle Australia wide on purchase

OKAs at Newnes, May 2003

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OKA OWNERS GROUP (PUTTING PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST)

NEWSLETTER August 2003

Hi everyone,

We have just had a short trip this year as our crew didn’t want to be away too long, owing

to the drought which is bent but not yet broken. Without rain shortly we will be right back into it. We made our way to Ceduna, then travelled Goog’s Track to the railway line and found a good dirt road from Kingoonya to Iron Knob. We then travelled through the Flinders Ranges, Cameron’s Corner, White Cliffs, Wilcannia and then home. We have to report a trouble-free trip, and the Powerdown steering damper took the shake out of the steering. While in the Flinders Ranges we did the Skytrek tour on the privately owned Willow Springs station just North of Wilpena Pound. We would recommend this to anyone. It is an excellent day tour in your own vehicle, with spectacular views. Take a cut lunch and I would suggest you plan to start around 9 – 9.30 am to give you plenty of time, as it will take 6 to 7 hours and the scenery is really tops. Bookings can be made from the Wilpena Office or call Flinders Ranges Accomodation Booking services on (Freecall) 1800777880. Willow Springs also have a camping ground, shearer’s quarters, overseer’s cottage etc. We stayed at Wilpena Pound and went from there.

Accompanied by some other OKA Owners we hope to go to Petrie, which is just North of Brisbane, where the Auswide Motor Home Club is holding a rally from the 11^th to the 15^th Sept. The Auswide Club is a no frills organisation where volunteers do the hard work. We thought it might be nice to see how they operate and we hope more of you may be able to make it with us as visitors. We plan to camp at the Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club on the night of the 10^th (OK for 1 night, showers & toilets available). This is situated on the Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Road, on the East side of the road, just south of the Glasshouse Mountains village. If you can’t find it, ring our friends Len & Merle Howard on 0754930134 and they will set you straight. If we can meet there on the 10^th, we can drive to the Rally as a group and camp together rather than turning up in dribs and drabs.