five car trains on dragster with no wheels

After riding TTD on 5/18/03 I saw TTD had all six trains running with five cars. The big dragster wheels on the back have been removed. I was wondering why. If any one has any information please tell.

.......................................................

TTD was buit TTD has come TTD is here to stay

I have heard from a reliable source that the tires (which were real dragster tires, and therefore heavy) were causing stress fractures where they hooked in to the ride. By the way, there are still only five trains (as of Saturday). The gold train still isn't back at the park (not that I want to nitpick, but since everyone else does...)

------------------
Goccvp1

SFGAm...When you need a good example of a SF park, this is where you look.

Apparently, the dragster-style tires, or "slicks", were allowed to freely rotate. It seems that these slicks would rotate quite quickly at times and cause unwanted forces on the train.

Remember the physics expermient where you held a rotating bike tire while sitting on a stool? When you tried to tilt the tire, you rotated on the stool. Think of the slicks on the trains as the rotating bike tires and the train as you...when the train twists up the tower, those rotating slicks are putting a lot of unwanted force on the wheel attachment points, wheel assemblies, and track. I forsee the tires coming back, but in a fixed position as to eliminate rotation.

-seth
*** This post was edited by ucdaap42 5/19/2003 3:50:21 PM ***

The wheels disappeared from the trains sometime on Saturday afternoon. I'd say it was an emergency axlectomy, as it happened during the day, not during overnight maintenance. I didn't see them come off...it was a "now you see them, now you don't" kind of thing.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Maybe they have a pit crew. :)

------------------
--Maddie--

You gotta love RideMan's made-up words. Come on, axlectomy? Thats a classic... ;)

------------------
If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

ucdaap42, the wheels didn't move freely. I think the reason for their removal probabaly had something to do with excess wind resistance on the train. Two weeks ago on the 11th, when I was at CP the ride didn't open until about 11:45am. Everyone in the queue was pretty dang angry with the ride not opening up and wanting to know why every train they tested wouldn't make it over. Eventually they sent a ride-op through the queue telling the people the reason the ride would not make it over the crest of the hill was because there were 60mph winds at the top, and the ride was designed to make it over until the winds exceeded 30mph. I know you can't usually trust the ride-ops, but I'm pretty sure this was correct, seeing as TTD was only 1 of the 3 main coasters open that day. Those tires are huge, and create a heck of a lot of drag that was probabaly preventing the ride from operating constantly once the winds picked up.

------------------
"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

That sounds a little suspect.

If they *know* the ride can't operate in winds above 30 mph, and they *know* the winds are 60 mph, why would they even *bother*?

------------------
--Maddie--

Seems like there are a lot problems with TTD. First it was the cars and one having to be removed and now this. Hopefully they eventually get it all straightened out.

I know for a fact they were spinning as it was easilly seen. However the way those things stick out there that is a lot of weight on a small axle. I would place my bets on the g's pulling on them and causing some problems. The axle was pretty flimsly for substantial mag wheels and 36 inch tires.
------------------
God bless Intamin, Company that I love. Stand beside her, and ride her, from the opening to the closing of the day.

Were the tires allowed to rotate freely? I saw videos from Media Day where the wheels didn't rotate, and when I was at the Point last week I don't recall them rotating either...

------------------
Tommy Penner - YoYoBaybeeMan
The Matrix: Reloaded and Cedar Point in the same week - Sensory Overload!

Maybe the problem is more obvious than you think: They aren't supposed to be spinning, but indeed are!

------------------
Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)

They do spin freely.. trust me.. I've worked around the ride enough in the last few weeks.

------------------
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services - 2002-2003
Frightzone Screamster - 2002-2003

As long as it's open on Saturday. Do you think it was because of the 5th car that made them need to take off the wheels? Or was it a general problem?

------------------
Beware of the Ska Robot Army

Opening day they WERE not spinning. They are not supposed to spin. And I seriously doubt the 5th car necessitated their removal.

------------------
God bless Intamin, Company that I love. Stand beside her, and ride her, from the opening to the closing of the day.

Dose anyone think they may replace the tires with less heavy tires?

Chernabog said:
That sounds a little suspect.
If they *know* the ride can't operate in winds above 30 mph, and they *know* the winds are 60 mph, why would they even *bother*?

Probabaly because it was a passing storm. There wasn't a constant wall of wind, there were random strong gusts. Just as an example of the strength of the wind, it was strong enough to rip some of the TTD banners from the poles that border TTD. They later ended up taking all of them off as a safety percaution. As for the wheels rotating, again I don't recall ever seeing them sping freely. But if I do remember right I think they could rotate maybe about 1/8th revolution, but they definitely weren't on a free spinning bearing.

------------------
"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner
*** This post was edited by IOArules 5/19/2003 9:46:25 PM ***

All I know is that after they removed the wheels on saturday, the ride was running alot faster and alot more reliably. (aside from a one hour breakdown the trains just kept running none of the every 4 or 5 launch breakdows like the last couple of weeks)

------------------
AHHHHHHHH!

ucdaap42 said:

Remember the physics expermient where you held a rotating bike tire while sitting on a stool? When you tried to tilt the tire, you rotated on the stool.

Where've I heard that before?

What is it with people who toss around the words "stess fracture" all the time?

Why does made up stuff fester into fact?

These are the questions of the enthusiast world...

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

It could be the weight of the tires. There are real tires right? And tires are heavy. It could effect the speed slightly.