Griffon to reopen Aug. 5th

Went back to BGE today, Griffon was still down, several ride ops told us that its scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 5th. It appears the chain broke. We rode the train, which goes right beside the run out and lift hill. There was about 4 of 5 big wooden cases with lift chain in it, the chain was not on the lift at all, the channel was empty. I have been there for two straight visits now with no Griffon, I miss her !

A B&M... with downtime? It can't be. That just doesn't happen. ^____^

That sure is a long time to replace a chain. If they didn't have a replacement on standby, shame on them.

I read a post from someone who had talked to maintenance when it happened, and they said they had to order the new chain from Switzerland.

Go figure. What is so special about this chain, or did B&M just want to see how it failed?

Chang's chain also broke, I believe it was withing a week of opening. Or maybe it was even opening day.

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Jeff said:
That sure is a long time to replace a chain. If they didn't have a replacement on standby, shame on them.

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Why would you think they would have a spare chain on hand? I have never heard of a park having spare chains for their coasters. Every time I have heard of one break, they had to be ordered from the manufacturer.

I wonder if parks have warrenties from manufacturers. Who is to pay for this, BGE or B&M?

Even though this is considered a "wear and tear" part which would normally not be covered, I would think since Griffon is only in its second season, that B&M would cover the cost of a replacement.

I could see parks keeping chains for coasters, but the Dive Coaster chains are a heck of alot bigger then the usual Beemer chain.

i thought that there was a plant in Sandusky that built chain like that?

Anyhoo...

I though chain like this came in strandard sizes, just the length would be made to spec. How many other pices of machenery use this type (and size) chain? I would've though it's something they had on the shelf in a wearhouse in Pittsburgh or Dallas, or SOMEWHERE!

Do they need to replace the whole thing or just the link(s) that broke?

Usually the whole thing, just as a safety measure.

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ApolloAndy said:
Do they need to replace the whole thing or just the link(s) that broke?

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Typically you will want to replace the whole thing, as when the chain snapped, there may have been damage to links outside of the direct area that broke. It isn't always done that was, but, it makes sense in most circumstances.

Chang's chain broke during it's opening weekend, but luckily they weren't doing daily operation yet, so they had the whole week. If I remember right, it took them the entire week to get it back up and running, but it might have been longer.

These things are expected to break, so why shouldn't they have a spare one in stock? Or maybe there is a shelf-life for chains regardless of how much they are used and the park doesn't want to have an extra one sitting around slowly degrading not knowing when the current chain is going to break?

^My thinking about stuff like lift chains, LIMs, etc. is that if you, park chain 'X', have got multiple similar coasters running (like say, Griffon and SheiKra, or Mamba and Wild Thing, or JJinx and Chiller, or Great White and Montu) that your "chain" should have a spare around somewhere. Comes in especially handy when you have something fail in mideseason.

Unusual parts or unforeseeable failures are one thing, but lift chains or cables are in no way unforeseeable. "Routine" might be a clue as to whether you need spares...and if it turns out that none of your parks have an issue during the season, simply rotate the spare into normal usage and replace the inventory.

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Danny Biggerstaff CoAsTeRDaN said:
Why would you think they would have a spare chain on hand? I have never heard of a park having spare chains for their coasters.

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Cedar Point does. I'm not sure for which rides. Raptor's chain broke recently, and they ended up being down for two days, which is uncharacteristically long for them. Perhaps something else broke in the process. I seem to recall Corkscrew being down less than 24 hours last time its chain broke.

I know in '05, TTD had it's main drive gear break. It was down from Labor Day to the end of the season. Now a drive gear as big as that thing, THAT is definityaly custom part.

Chain isn't exactly a cheap thing to have around as a spare part seeing how we are talking about several hundred thousand dollars. Now further imagine if something happens to damage that chain that you have sitting in the warehouse.

Also there are subcontractors you are also dealing with in all of this. If they are backed up with other jobs, the chain may take a few days more than otherwise. Throw on top of it that it came from overseas, and its just not always a next day thing.

What do subcontractors have to do with installing it?

I just don't buy the excuses when I've seen another park quickly turn around a broken chain.

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Jeff said:
What do subcontractors have to do with installing it?

I just don't buy the excuses when I've seen another park quickly turn around a broken chain.

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I think the park you mentioned is in the minority of having chains on hand, and to be honest, I have not heard of them having spares either. I don't think that is the norm. Every time I have heard of a chain breaking, the park has had to order one.