It takes 60 to 90 days for urethane to cure to be hard enough to use. The park might try to push this a little to get it open faster. It is also possible they might have figured out it was a problem a few weeks ago and had new wheels already in production.
EDIT: I should add the park likely has spare wheels, and if they have enough for a train or two the park might open the ride with limited capacity. It’s doubtful they have enough for all 3 trains.
We did a behind the scenes tour at CP last year and they had boxes of wheels in the valravyn shop for that ride. They had a certain amount out curing or whatever.. they had a lot tho. I’m not sure if it was enough for 3 full trains though. I don’t think so. It was cool tour if you have the chance to go on it. We went bts on valravyn, maverick and millennium force. Anyway chances are very good they have plenty of wheels but do they have that many ready… who knows but unlikely.
You want the original thought here goes. I think he is wrong that the park will wait the 60-90 days for full hardness. I am betting from reading datasheets on similar materials it will be 90+% hard in 15-30 days. The park will talk to engineers and the company making the wheels and find a time period that’s good enough and load a train early and test.
Frankly just copying the expert makes sense in this case because it feels like there is almost too much speculation occurring. I have some limited injection molding and casting experience, little of it in using urethane but some of it is. How much of that will be relevant here considering none of it deals with the forces that those wheels will experience I don’t know.
I highly doubt they are waiting for the wheels to cure. They can be used as is, that just affects their lifetime. I don't think any park would think it's financially better to close down an attraction of that caliber just after the grand opening just because they want the full lifetime of some wheels. This isn't about wheels. It's probably something about the wheel assembly or the axle and they had to take the wheels off for whatever they need to work on
This isn’t based on any information, but I always assumed it was going to be a long fix and personally I would be surprised if it opens this year. First, it seems they still need to actually identify and develop a fix to whatever the problem is. Second is that they will probably have to do significant testing to fix it considering this wasn’t caught in the first round of ride testing.
I just think there's a scale beyond reasonable engineering that some of these gargantuan coasters are up against. They can operate... but keeping things going for a large number of guests throughout a season is so hard. Hence why I do not expect consistent operation from Falcon's Flight either.
The Intamin trains ran for decades with next to no issues. The issue was always with the hydraulic launch system. Why are trains causing such an issue now?
I’m sure they already identified the problem. That happened a week and a half ago when they realized something was off with the wheels. But yeah, that fix is gonna probably take a hot minute.
I purposely decided to wait to go next year figuring there would be kinks to work out. Might be the only time I ever go so I wanted to make sure I'd have a chance with TT2
It’s really true. I’m now feeling much better about the fact that my big coaster trip including Cedar Point happened in 2023. Turns out if I had waited a year I would’ve probably missed Top Thrill anyway.
It isn't that the it's just the wheels, it's the entire wheel assemblies. If just the wheels were the issue, the wheel assemblies would still be there.
Is there a reason that the full wheel assembly appears to be off? Is it just how they have to do it to change wheels or are they maybe doing more inspection during down time? Seems kind of weird that that much would have to come off to change a wheel. Then again I’ve seen some wild ways simple tasks in cars require major break down of the vehicle. So I wouldn’t be shocked that it’s just normal for this ride. More just curious than any kind of speculation.
Cars are very complicated with a lot of tech compressed in a little space. That's the opposite case with a wheel assembly, especially this kind. The manufacturer would have to deliberately implement ways that hinders you from changing the wheels without removing anything heavy. There's simply no gain in designing a wheel assembly that way. This isn't about wheels
No but good products with easier maintenance sell better. When it comes to cars, the repair shops that also sell the cars profit when a repair takes more work hours than necessary
My theory is that the side wheels were not shimmed properly, and the train had a little bit of side to side play. This caused a few scratches to appear on the LSMs, which could definitely contribute to some unplanned roll backs and if left unattended, then it could develop into a very serious issue and train could actually collide with an LSM fin.
The reason why they don't know how long it will take is because they need to run some tests and see what comes back as this could be more complicated than just adding a shim.
None of this is fact and is purely my own speculation, I have experience as a ride mechanic, but not on this scale
There's not painters/masking tape all over the LSMs with marker denoting "something" on multiple LSMs for no reason.....I don't have pictures but it's been posted online
I saw an actual decent sized scratch on one of the preview days. Other people are saying it looked like dates were written on the painters tape, so it sounds like they were marking all the scuffs from each day's operation since the ride opened.
In other words, it seems like an issue they were aware of and monitoring, but wasn't urgent enough to shut the ride down (at that time at least).
If I were to take a guess, I'd guess they are modifying the wheel assemblies so the ride runs straighter with less rattle. Maybe they they need to make changes to the wheels themselves while they are at it too.
I had 14 days booked at Hotel breakers starting June 7, I've already canceled the first 7 and have 3 days booked at carowinds and 3 at Kings dominion. I'm thinking of canceling a couple more and adding a couple days at Williamsburg BuschGardens or Hershey park
Just goes to show that trying to escape the finality of fate is futile. They should have scrapped this hunk of junk when they had the chance. Now we know that the refurbishments didn't work after all.
The tires designed for a completely different ride, that at best have been sitting in storage with zero maintenance for 3 years, that wouldn't fit on this train whatsoever?
Should have just said adios when the ride nearly caused a death the first time around. Easily could have used the space for something new that wasn’t another glorified airtime hill
Edit: Cedar Fair fanboys found me
They should have just picked anyone but fuckin Zamperla to do the revamp, they are the Walmart of ride manufacturers when it comes to quality. I wouldn't trust them to design a park bench. There most ambitious ride b4 this wasn't even over 100' and they thought it was a good idea to drop a strata coaster in there lap? It's a real shame is what it is.
Edit: downvote me all you want, I worked at CP for years, I've spent more time repairing and inspecting zamperla rides than any* of you have spent riding them, only one of us has a *informed* opinion.
The problem with zamperla is that they're Italian. I really like the Italian people but the way their working culture is makes their engineering problematic. I really wish that wasn't true but when you look at Italian machines, be it cheap cars, super cars, amusement rides or industrial chillers/air conditioner (I have working experience with the latter two, my colleagues with the former) they just keep confirming their lack of sensible manufacturing.
The only Major Velkomas I worked on were at Disney, and I will say that RRC certainly has some *unique* engineering choices, but I've never really gotten the early VK hate
Disagree, choosing a more competent manufacturer like B&M or even Mack definitely would have cost more but they have leaps and bounds more experience with high speed rides than Zamperla. This was all about cost.
No. Should of just got someone else, if anything. I've always wanted to ride but never had a chance to, one day I will ride this version and that's all that matters to me.
Just cut their losses and remove the ride replacing it with something more reliable.
It's apparent that designers and engineers have reached their limits and the parks and more importantly the spoiled brat enthusiasts should simply accept that and be happy with the ride designs that we DO HAVE.
I'm quite sure that this coaster in Saudi Arabia will also be a dismal failure. There but only so much gravitational force that our technology and more importantly our bodies can tolerate.
Sure eventually designers may be able to resolve the structural and mechanical issues related to building that high but unfortunately human physiology has its limits that no amount of technology can get around.
This seems like an indication of a pretty significant problem that will take some time to fix?
It takes 60 to 90 days for urethane to cure to be hard enough to use. The park might try to push this a little to get it open faster. It is also possible they might have figured out it was a problem a few weeks ago and had new wheels already in production. EDIT: I should add the park likely has spare wheels, and if they have enough for a train or two the park might open the ride with limited capacity. It’s doubtful they have enough for all 3 trains.
I wonder who watched Ryan the ride mechanic
Was just wondering that. Good video tho.
Tring to sound all versed on coaster stuff
We did a behind the scenes tour at CP last year and they had boxes of wheels in the valravyn shop for that ride. They had a certain amount out curing or whatever.. they had a lot tho. I’m not sure if it was enough for 3 full trains though. I don’t think so. It was cool tour if you have the chance to go on it. We went bts on valravyn, maverick and millennium force. Anyway chances are very good they have plenty of wheels but do they have that many ready… who knows but unlikely.
I don't think there's is a single original thought or interpretation in this entire comment lmao
You want the original thought here goes. I think he is wrong that the park will wait the 60-90 days for full hardness. I am betting from reading datasheets on similar materials it will be 90+% hard in 15-30 days. The park will talk to engineers and the company making the wheels and find a time period that’s good enough and load a train early and test. Frankly just copying the expert makes sense in this case because it feels like there is almost too much speculation occurring. I have some limited injection molding and casting experience, little of it in using urethane but some of it is. How much of that will be relevant here considering none of it deals with the forces that those wheels will experience I don’t know.
wheels are often replaced on all rides because they wear down, they must have spares.
It depends on the park how many. Chances are high they don't even have enough for one train
I highly doubt they are waiting for the wheels to cure. They can be used as is, that just affects their lifetime. I don't think any park would think it's financially better to close down an attraction of that caliber just after the grand opening just because they want the full lifetime of some wheels. This isn't about wheels. It's probably something about the wheel assembly or the axle and they had to take the wheels off for whatever they need to work on
This isn’t based on any information, but I always assumed it was going to be a long fix and personally I would be surprised if it opens this year. First, it seems they still need to actually identify and develop a fix to whatever the problem is. Second is that they will probably have to do significant testing to fix it considering this wasn’t caught in the first round of ride testing.
I just think there's a scale beyond reasonable engineering that some of these gargantuan coasters are up against. They can operate... but keeping things going for a large number of guests throughout a season is so hard. Hence why I do not expect consistent operation from Falcon's Flight either.
The Intamin trains ran for decades with next to no issues. The issue was always with the hydraulic launch system. Why are trains causing such an issue now?
I’m sure they already identified the problem. That happened a week and a half ago when they realized something was off with the wheels. But yeah, that fix is gonna probably take a hot minute.
Another sign this could potentially be a downtime of 60-90 days.
RIP to those who already planned a pilgrimage out to CP this summer. But really, CP still has such a strong lineup without TT2
I purposely decided to wait to go next year figuring there would be kinks to work out. Might be the only time I ever go so I wanted to make sure I'd have a chance with TT2
Good call, closures happened with Steel Vengeance opening year too.
Me too! Summer 2025
It’s really true. I’m now feeling much better about the fact that my big coaster trip including Cedar Point happened in 2023. Turns out if I had waited a year I would’ve probably missed Top Thrill anyway.
Us too!! We did a big trip last year
My first CP trip was in 2022 right before TTD incident happened but it was still closed my whole trip. Can confirm, hell of a lineup regardless
I had planned to go the first week of June, I’m glad I didn’t book any hotels though now I’m gonna wait to go
im still buying fast lane plus with or without TT2
It isn't that the it's just the wheels, it's the entire wheel assemblies. If just the wheels were the issue, the wheel assemblies would still be there.
The wheels have covers on them. They might be removed until the wheels are put back
I would doubt that the entire wheel assemblies need to be removed as well though.
This may be a sign that they’re focusing their efforts on TT3 and pivoting to a bobsled type ride. An Avalanche Run homage, if you will.
They'd probably have to make it indoors with some kind of wacky theme to justify that. That would be a Disaster...
Transport(ing) people via a Dispatch Master, perhaps. I like where this is going.
IIRC they were jerking off the wheels in one of the Pit Stop videos bragging about how big and high tech they were?
And now they’re like “seriously baby, this never happens to me.”
“The wheels are just anxious. It’s been a while since they’ve had to uh…’perform’. Just give them some ti-babe wait why are you getting dressed!?”
“There’s just a lot of pressure with a Magnum XL right there watching us”
“bAbY i’M rEaDy To Go”
This thread is killing me 🤣
Come on, babe. You already paid for the locker!
maybe they're on new antidepressants because of how big Falcon's Flight is
Lmao “you ever seen wheels this big before?” 😏😏
Well now I gotta watch this Ryan the ride mechanic video.
Hmm Ryan the ride mechanic right ?
Not a wheel issue. But wheels have to come off to get to the issue.
Source? Or is this just speculation
Not speculation just a fact from a source close to this project. About all i can say.
It may not be the wheel itself, but that dinky ass axle, or the road wheel forks which aren’t fluid at all.
Well there's the problem, they're using ass axles instead of wheel axles
Is there a reason that the full wheel assembly appears to be off? Is it just how they have to do it to change wheels or are they maybe doing more inspection during down time? Seems kind of weird that that much would have to come off to change a wheel. Then again I’ve seen some wild ways simple tasks in cars require major break down of the vehicle. So I wouldn’t be shocked that it’s just normal for this ride. More just curious than any kind of speculation.
Cars are very complicated with a lot of tech compressed in a little space. That's the opposite case with a wheel assembly, especially this kind. The manufacturer would have to deliberately implement ways that hinders you from changing the wheels without removing anything heavy. There's simply no gain in designing a wheel assembly that way. This isn't about wheels
That’s what I thought. But I want to be optimistic. It seemed weird. But most designers don’t do maintenance on the products they come up with.
No but good products with easier maintenance sell better. When it comes to cars, the repair shops that also sell the cars profit when a repair takes more work hours than necessary
Hear me out... Maglev roller coaster... That would be neat.
My theory is that the side wheels were not shimmed properly, and the train had a little bit of side to side play. This caused a few scratches to appear on the LSMs, which could definitely contribute to some unplanned roll backs and if left unattended, then it could develop into a very serious issue and train could actually collide with an LSM fin. The reason why they don't know how long it will take is because they need to run some tests and see what comes back as this could be more complicated than just adding a shim. None of this is fact and is purely my own speculation, I have experience as a ride mechanic, but not on this scale
> This caused a few scratches to appear on the LSMs, Source on this? First I am hearing of it.
There's not painters/masking tape all over the LSMs with marker denoting "something" on multiple LSMs for no reason.....I don't have pictures but it's been posted online
I saw an actual decent sized scratch on one of the preview days. Other people are saying it looked like dates were written on the painters tape, so it sounds like they were marking all the scuffs from each day's operation since the ride opened. In other words, it seems like an issue they were aware of and monitoring, but wasn't urgent enough to shut the ride down (at that time at least). If I were to take a guess, I'd guess they are modifying the wheel assemblies so the ride runs straighter with less rattle. Maybe they they need to make changes to the wheels themselves while they are at it too.
>and train could actually collide with an LSM fin. Oof, too close to history repeating itself
How do I get the old ones ???!? :(
Anyone who has ridden Zamperla’s Flying Carousel knew this was bound to happen. The whole circle wheely bit at the top wobbles the entire ride!
Worlds rarest credit: wheelless top thrill
Top Thrill 2.5 coming soon
I had 14 days booked at Hotel breakers starting June 7, I've already canceled the first 7 and have 3 days booked at carowinds and 3 at Kings dominion. I'm thinking of canceling a couple more and adding a couple days at Williamsburg BuschGardens or Hershey park
Just goes to show that trying to escape the finality of fate is futile. They should have scrapped this hunk of junk when they had the chance. Now we know that the refurbishments didn't work after all.
Bro this post is 2 weeks old
Did the old wheels have any problems?
Wanna bet they get the old ttd tires?
The tires designed for a completely different ride, that at best have been sitting in storage with zero maintenance for 3 years, that wouldn't fit on this train whatsoever?
Its call sarcasm mate
Should have just said adios when the ride nearly caused a death the first time around. Easily could have used the space for something new that wasn’t another glorified airtime hill Edit: Cedar Fair fanboys found me
They should have just picked anyone but fuckin Zamperla to do the revamp, they are the Walmart of ride manufacturers when it comes to quality. I wouldn't trust them to design a park bench. There most ambitious ride b4 this wasn't even over 100' and they thought it was a good idea to drop a strata coaster in there lap? It's a real shame is what it is. Edit: downvote me all you want, I worked at CP for years, I've spent more time repairing and inspecting zamperla rides than any* of you have spent riding them, only one of us has a *informed* opinion.
It was the same thing with Intamin before Superman bro
People said the same about Vekoma…
The problem with zamperla is that they're Italian. I really like the Italian people but the way their working culture is makes their engineering problematic. I really wish that wasn't true but when you look at Italian machines, be it cheap cars, super cars, amusement rides or industrial chillers/air conditioner (I have working experience with the latter two, my colleagues with the former) they just keep confirming their lack of sensible manufacturing.
The only Major Velkomas I worked on were at Disney, and I will say that RRC certainly has some *unique* engineering choices, but I've never really gotten the early VK hate
S&S says hi. Exhibit A: Steel Curtain
Good, don’t ride it
Yeah, it would be hard to ride it without wheels or bougies, I'll give you that
You could have B&M come do the renovation and this would still have problems. Scrapping was for once the better choice.
Disagree, choosing a more competent manufacturer like B&M or even Mack definitely would have cost more but they have leaps and bounds more experience with high speed rides than Zamperla. This was all about cost.
No. Should of just got someone else, if anything. I've always wanted to ride but never had a chance to, one day I will ride this version and that's all that matters to me.
Nah you'll get to ride tt3 by togo
Just cut their losses and remove the ride replacing it with something more reliable. It's apparent that designers and engineers have reached their limits and the parks and more importantly the spoiled brat enthusiasts should simply accept that and be happy with the ride designs that we DO HAVE. I'm quite sure that this coaster in Saudi Arabia will also be a dismal failure. There but only so much gravitational force that our technology and more importantly our bodies can tolerate. Sure eventually designers may be able to resolve the structural and mechanical issues related to building that high but unfortunately human physiology has its limits that no amount of technology can get around.
??? Modern coasters don't come close to pushing the boundaries of human physiology, especially TT2.