Weird Noises on TR:TR

Two weeks ago when I went to Paramount's Kings Island for Fear Fest I rode Tomb Raider: The Ride. At the beginning of the ride I noticed a strange screeching noise in the background, but didn't pay much attention to it. Right at the end of the ride, as the gondola is being lowered to the unload position, I heard an extremely loud screeching noise similar to the sound before. I think most people would have thought that this was just another part of the ride, but it was very noticable for someone who has ridden it several times. Does anyone know what this noise was or if it is anything to be concerned about?

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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.

It was probably just a cat stuck in the gears.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Huss Top Spins (and the Mondial Splashovers for that matter) seem to have a lot of screeching and squealing when they get water in their arms.

Adam

What I was thinking is that, esp. with the mist and such, that keeping the MAIN swinging arms well-greased might be tough to do....and then add in the fact that it's harder to get in/on/around TR:TR than with *outdoor* Top Spins.

Friction without grease makes for squealing....just check out all the screeching on greaseless wooden coasters...;)
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

Den - OUCH! beware Da Claw...

Sick, but funny ;)

So Bill - would that be a greaseless cat then?

-Jim

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Coasters, kitties, beer n buddies - life *is* sweet :)

*** This post was edited by Invy 11/5/2003 4:29:27 PM ***

Its only the brakes screeching, nothing to worry about. :)
*** This post was edited by MaintanceMan 11/5/2003 4:46:05 PM ***

Jim, I would say *specifically* what I'd call that cat, but this is a family site....;)...also, I lost yer e-mail addy when I closed out the IM this AM before going to my Outlook....so send me an e-mail to my hotmail account....thx! :)
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Mistakes were made, others are to blame...

Bill - I have absolutely no idea what you could mean ;)

Email on its way mate. Umm, when I get your hotmail addy that is ;) LOL!

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Coasters, kitties, beer n buddies - life *is* sweet :)
*** This post was edited by Invy 11/6/2003 3:37:59 AM ***

I believe that TR:TR has locking brakes at the end of the seating platform within the arms of the ride as well as at the center axis pivot point at the top of each side anchoring support column. These allow the gondola and arms to be stopped or held in certain positions (i.e. the hang over the lava pit.)

Imagine "drum" brakes on a car. TR:TR, as far as I know, probably uses a similar mechanism that grabs the piviot point of each end of the gondola or arms. The ride is programmed so that at certain points these "drum" brakes lock and make the platform stationary while the arms still rotate, or lock the arms so that the entire unit will not move.

But like a car, when the brakes get wet, worn, overly dry etc. they will squeal. I have heard the high-pitched squeal many times while riding, and often hear it on other Huss Top Spins as well. There is no problem with the ride, it just means it needs probably to be lubricated. Since it gives so many rides a day, and is in a contained area ripe with mist and water... I expect that it is a daily challenge to keep it nice and greasy.

Part of the reason that TR:TR is so temperamental is the fact that it takes a very complicated series of computers that allow each of the ride's arm mechanisms to talk to each other. That way each side rotates in sync and the brakes grab on both ends at the same time etc. Add in the fact that you have about 75 people on board and varying weights and you have a very complex piece of machinery.

I expect that the ride may have some pretty heavy-duty brake pads... which I would like to see. Hardly an item you can pick up at your local Auto Zone :-)

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Shaggy

*** This post was edited by Shaggy 11/6/2003 2:43:05 PM ***

Haven`t they had problems with the brakes this season? Isn`t that why they were not loading the middle row so that there would be less weight on the gondola making it easier to stop? I too have heard the noise, which can sometimes be heard in line for The Beast. It is rumored that TR:TR may be getting a new ride program for next season.

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Coney Island (Cincinnati) ride operator (2002-2003)

Yea I heard the same noise when I rode TR: TR on the last day it was open. The funny thing was there was a guy sticking his head out of the wall where you start looking around for something. Frist time I saw that right next to the statues left eye. Other than that it was a good ride. I am glad to see Kings Island did not let a person take a camera on the Beast. not sure what you would have gotten a video at night on that thing for if it was all black.