Extended Downtime, Again

I didnt see this topic in the list, so I decided to add it...Cedar Points website now has the letter saying "We regret to inform you that Cedar Point's newest roller coaster, Top Thrill Dragster is currently not in operation due to mechanical problems.." I wonder if they are still having troubles with the hydraulics, or maybe they are going to fix the rollback thing, such as optimizing the speed off of the launch?

edit: I surely hope that during the off season Cedar Point will get Top Thrill Dragster COMPLETELY fixed and running.....I am getting extremely frustrated with Cedar Point right now..and I know that they are doing their best to correct everything, but what keeps going wrong?

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LaUnCh...420 feet, 120 mph, 4 seconds....brakes...breathe
*** This post was edited by Playa21 7/20/2003 12:46:55 PM ***

Crane near the station right now, wonder whats up with it. Heading out there in a week and a half, better get it fixed this time for my trip.

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- Dennis
When I die, They'll read this And say a genius wrote it.

I am somewhat lucky...I am visiting Cedar Point in late August or early September.....and I really hope that everything is fixed! This will be like the highlight of my summer!

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LaUnCh...420 feet, 120 mph, 4 seconds....brakes...breathe

I dont see the crane in that spot near the station anymore. It was there, but not for very long. Looks very quiet in the area.

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"Id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy."

I hope they get it fixed by next year but we all know that there will still be small downtimes like every other roller coasters so it won't be completely fixed I assure you.
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adriane ;)

Big D said:
Crane near the station right now, wonder whats up with it. Heading out there in a week and a half, better get it fixed this time for my trip.
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- Dennis
When I die, They'll read this And say a genius wrote it.

I too am going out in one week and a half. I thought that the park had already closed it for the season. Is there still a chance that it could open for the season?

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If there's bugs on your shirt, you had a good ride.

screammachinekid, TTD was never closed for the season. It has been open mostly every day, with the exception of about two days and some minor breakdowns, since july 4. there was two other days that the site said it was down, but it always got back up the next day, so hopefully it'll be back up and running tomorrow. so yeah, there is a good chance it'll be open when u go in a week and a half
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Top Thrill Dragster: 2
Millenium Force: 17
Magnum: 71

Yes, I agree, it should be open within a few days (1 to 2 probably)

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LaUnCh...420 feet, 120 mph, 4 seconds....brakes...breathe

I was there today and it was running smoothly at about 9:30am. It rolled back at around 9:45 and it didn't open since then. Monty and another worker were on a crane near the end of the launch looking into the hydraulic building or at the cable at around 10:00am. Later, I saw a couple mechanics working on the brakes at the beginning. After that I so no apparent work being done on the ride at all.

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Egg nog... how'd they think that up?
"I want to get a little drunk... but I also want some pankcakes."

pagoona said:
Monty and another worker were on a crane near the end of the launch looking into the hydraulic building or at the cable at around 10:00am.

I think this guy must live there or something. As much as he's there I cant imagine the hours put in a work week. I'm sure TTD's situation has something to do with it but, wow he's always there it seems. I have trip #3 planned for this Thursday with still NO rides in on TTD. I'm getting real nervous again.
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"Id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy."

ive been there at least 30 times already this year, so hes not the only one to "live there"

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TTD=10(frontseat=3)double digits baby!!!
rollbacks seen=2...1 almost stopped at top

I have been there about 15 times this season, and i like over 2 hours away. I was there 3 or 4 times before i got my first ride.

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Its hot, the bugs are here, and everything has a line....AH CARP! ITS JULY!

Who I'm was talking about was Monty, and the hours he must be working since the TTD trouble. Heck, I'd go everyday if I could.

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"Id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy."

pagoona said:
After that I so no apparent work being done on the ride at all.

Every time I walked by it I saw mechanics working on the launch run. Earlier in the day they were near the hydraulic building and seemed to progressively get closer to the station as it got later. I don't think it is a problem with the hydraulics. My guess is that it is a problem with the launch sled or the brakes and I wouldn't be surprised if it is back up by tomorrow.
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CP2K3: Visits: 23 Drag races won: 5worker were on a crane near the end of the lau

This morning I spotted Monty Jasper and Jack Fletcher looking and pointing and shooting digital photos.

Later in the day, a crew of three mechanics were disassembling the launch sled.

By evening, no less than five mechanics were crawling all over the launch track. They appeared to be removing the lining material from the bottom of the launch sled track.

Ignoring the fact that the more time the mechanics spend answering questions from people asking whether they're going to fix it today, many people were bothering the mechanics with the question which could easily have been answered with a look at the sign at the ride entrance. One commented that it would probably be a couple of days before they got this round of work done.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Well... I hope Cedar Point has learned their lesson. Never ever ever send out an e-mail bragging about something working. As a general rule machines stop cooperating at exactly the wrong moment.

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TTD Launches: 5
MF Laps (2003): 11
Rapter Laps (2003): 7
*** This post was edited by shwilson24 7/21/2003 1:42:19 AM ***

You sound like some kind of third grade teacher. Whatever.

The problems are again with the launch sled, which keeps getting beat up on rollbacks.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Luau II Cam 7/19
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

Jeff, is it possible to make the launch faster so that they could almost 100% eliminate rollback? If the problem is rollback, they should probably develop a way to almost eliminate it.

I noticed last Wednesday that once a train rolls back, the brake fins are raised and lowered several times before the train moves back into the station. that surprised me as I thought the brake fins would lower, the train would move all the way back, and then they'd raise again.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

No, they bounce the fins up and down in an effort to keep the train's speed under control as they roll it back to the launch point. Unfortunately they keep it REALLY slow because as it approaches the launch point they simply don't have the kind of precision that comes from pinch brakes. Remember there is a non-zero chance of accidentally front-ending the train in the staging area if the train rolls too fast in recovery! That would be a Bad Thing™ so the brakes are used to make such an event unlikely.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.