Gwazi gets GCI Millennium Flyer train(s)

Definitely uplift force, but absolutely no air time unless you're small enough that the lap bar doesn't have to squeeze you into the seat to clear the sensors.

Thanks for the explanation, Coasterpunk. I guess in summary: more locking points = more parts that can't fit into the limited space for the locking mechanism.

So I think it's fair to say that ideally you would want more locking points, but the as-is arrangement is good enough for the majority of riders.

Question about those two "backup locking positions":
Are those before the bar actually makes a clicking noise when I pull it down? For me, most of the time, I only hear one click before I can't lower the bar any further. As there is too much space between the first two clicks for me to get another one. Are you saying there are actually two other clicks prior that once the train is released would engage?

coasterpunk can verify this for us, but I had the same conversation with one of his co-workers a few years ago...

Yes, that's how it works. As I understand it, there is a component in the mechanism which prevents the lock from engaging in the first two notches until the ratchet passes the third notch. Once the mechanism passes the third notch, the mechanism which prevents locking in the first two notches is disabled, so that if you have the bar in its "first" notch (which is actually the third), and for some reason it pops loose, it can re-lock in one of those first two notches instead of opening all the way. Incidentally, I have never seen or heard of this happening on a GCI train.

Now that I think about it, I am remembering the behavior of some of the PTC lap bars, where the bar actually locks in the full-open position (in fact, it has happened to me!) if it pops up during the ride. I know the GCI bars will lock in their full-open position, but I am not sure of the conditions under which they will do that; I presume that only happens when the bars are RELEASED. But I wonder if that feature is related to the use of the two backup notches. Because after all, most of us, if our lap bar pops up a notch during the ride will respond by pulling it back down again...unless we can't.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Acoustic Viscosity said:
Definitely uplift force, but absolutely no air time unless you're small enough that the lap bar doesn't have to squeeze you into the seat to clear the sensors.

+1

Rideman has it right in his summary about the 2 saftey clicks.

Ok, so it's basically a way of making sure every rider has at least THREE clicks without having to count or visually verify each lap bar. Pretty slick. I will have to take the tour sometime. I'd like to see how the mechanisms work.

It's the way things should be. No measuring, no special markings, no arguments as to whether the restraint is down enough...if it locks, you're good to go. Now if they just trusted the lap bar enough to do away with the seat belt, we would be in great shape. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

^I'm guessing they do trust the lap bar enough Rideman...it's the insurance companies that don't. :)

And anyone trusting a rider controlled restraint is Well, Just a moron

coasterpunk said:
Our lapbars are designed for an average persons build and have a standard 10 clicks once the lapbar comes down and secures the rider between the seat divider and the seat side. We also have 2 back up clicks before the first click. The lapbar cans are located on the outside of the car under the running board, directly below the diamond plat. Space is a factor on how complex they are. Our lapbar cans have roughly 60 parts that work together to lock and secure the rider in. Any of those parts the park can order if one becomes damaged we have some parts that are standard for both sides and some that are for right and left sides. Its the simplest way we have to secure someone in place without having many extra one off parts. Everything works on all our train from our Roar trains up to our newest.I'm sure some people toured our shop (which BTW is about 300% larger now) and saw our lapbar cans and how complex they are with everything fitting in place. Hopefuly that makes explains everything without going into too much detail.

Basically we have to be able to get them to fit as many people as possible the easiest way possible considering the limited space we have to work with. Our standard 10 clicks works well for what we have to do.

It just sucks that I'm just the wrong size (5'10" 190lbs) for your trains. The lapbar dropped against my stomach in the station which is fairly comfortable. But by the bottom of the first drop it ratchets down to my waist which puts a lot of pressure against my stomach. I literally have to suck my gut in to keep it from hurting.
My last two rides I rode with my hands down holding the lapbar up in the original loading position. It really takes away from the riding experience having to protect myself instead of sitting back and enjoying the ride.
The trains have made the coaster a whole lot more rerideable but the seemed to be running a bit slower than the PTCs use to. Maybe it was all the new grease and the cool 50 degree weather but I hope the get back up to PTC speed.

I have experienced the same problem that Daniel has described. It is simply about comfort for me. My last rides on Thunderhead were painful because my bar came down a notch or two due to the forces of the ride. I suspect the shape of the bar is partially to blame because my knees to hit it like they do in a PTC.