Space Spiral ever stuck?

Has the Space Spiral cabin ever been stuck at the top of the tower with passengers in it?

I remember along time ago, back in the early 90's, I was at the Point and I happened to notice that the cabin was sitting still right in the middle of the tower. Although, it was storming that day, that could have had something to do with it.

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~Eric L.~
www.theamazementpark.com

I have heard a story in which people were stuck for an entire day, and had to get out by way of helicopter.

Don't know if it is true.

I've heard of problems with the Space Spiral. Last season I heard something about a small fire on the ride, but I have no other details. Seeing the cabin half way up the tower is it's normal "parked" position.

-cm *** This post was edited by wings51 on 1/10/2001. ***

I remember Pete telling me a story about this. Ohh Pete.

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daniel j. haverlock
Magnum Count: 1266
MF Count: 117
spiritofthepoint.com

I remember that little fire. From what I heard it happened in the actual tower itself. I think it was either electrical, or that it had to do with the cords that pull the cabin up and let it back down.

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Monster Ride Host for 2 Years
3 Years Total @ CP

Yes, it did get stuck one day a number of summers ago. I forget exactly when, but I think it was in the late 80's. I was in the area when it broke down, and I remember a mechanic coming out of the service hatch at the bottom and saying something to a ride host while shaking his head. The cabin was stuck for a long time. A maintenance worker repelled from the top down to the cabin during the course of the day. They couldn't get the cabin down, they were eventually able to get it to the top of the tower. The riders, from what I understand, exited through a hatch at the top of the cabin and entered the tower through a service hatch at the top. The had to climb down a ladder on the inside of the tower to get to ground level. A short article in the Plain Dealer later in the week said the incident was caused by a stuck transmission.

I was there when the power went out back in (I think 93-94)I belive that there is a manual crank of some sort,to where if power fails they can hand crank it down.

Sort of like the Memphis Belle's landing gear!!



*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 1/11/2001. ***

I would NOT want to be stuck on that ride on a hot day. I don't think the AC has worked on that thing for years!!

-cm

The story I heard was that the Space Spiral was sinking and was going to be sold to Japan.


At least that's what the Lemon Chill guy said...


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Duane Cahill
This space for rent

It's not going to be sold to Japan, it's just going to coninue sinking until it reaches Japan!

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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA
formerly: Seven-of-9

Heehe
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:) "Did you know this goes up-side down" :)

I suppose this really belongs in its own thread, but since we've already got one open...

Does anyone know the rationale for hoisting the cabin to the "halfway" point up the tower when the park is closed, including all winter?

It seems to me it would make more sense to have it at ground level, but maybe it's a security issue.

I have always wondered the same thing.

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MF Count: 11

I think that it has to do with the counter balance, but I'm not sure. I distinctly remember having a conversation about this last year.

CP_bound. I think your right dude. There was a converstation about this last year. It was to counter balance the tower or something similar.

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We bought a lifetime supply of pudding? How wasted were we last night?!
*Dude, Where's my car?*

On 3/7/2000, Rideman wrote:


I suspect that more than anything it has to do with putting the cabin and the counterweight at the same level in the tower, as someone else mentioned already. If you wander over to the Disaster Transport side of the tower, there is a little round access port at the bottom covered with an expanded-metal cover. If you take a peek through the expanded metal, you can see the counterweight appear as the cabin reaches the top of the tower.

In any case, if we assume that the counterweight is about the same mass as the empty cabin, then the two masses would hang in equilibrium at the middle of the tower. That's the theory, anyway...

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JRY