Top Thrill Dragster wheel 9-3-07

I was at the park Monday 9-3-07 2nd in line to get on Dragster when the ride shutdown. After waiting about 5-10 minutes they moved one of the trains off the track because the rear wheel of the last car was wobbling. After moving another train from the transfer track into the station the ride started again as normal. The entire process took about 20-30 minutes. I'm glad Cedar Point caught this and moved the problem off the circuit, but I was curious about this sort of thing. Has anyone ever witnessed a bad wheel on a coaster before? Are there sensors that are triggered when the train shakes due to this kinda of thing or do they wait for a rider or an operator to catch it & report it? *** Edited 9/4/2007 10:09:36 PM UTC by delphi94*** *** Edited 9/4/2007 10:22:11 PM UTC by delphi94***

I don't think there are many sensors involved... although don't quote me on that. A wobbling wheel could cause a sensor to be tripped though, or the train is at a lower speed, or something of that nature that would tip the computer off to something not right.

A lot of it is by listening though. Ride operators ride the rides in the morning to listen for anything that doesn't sound right (a wheel wobbling or something else). It is possible an operator noticed the wheel just by looking at it in the station or at unload or even on the track, or it is possible they heard an odd noise during launch or brkaing, or even it is possible that a guest reported an odd noise.

Over the season, the heat takes it toll on them. It's a common procedure on every coaster in the whole world.

I've been on countless Magnum rides over bad wheels. Nothing quite like getting the crap beat out of you when a road wheel "blows" under the ejector seat!

Do you mean that heat takes its toll on the rubber or the wheel itself because the entire wheel was wobbling as if it was loose or going to fall off. *** Edited 9/4/2007 10:59:40 PM UTC by delphi94***

Bad wheel? What's that?

Just kidding. ;)
Bad wheels are normal, and happen more often than you'd think...especially on certain rides. haha

Sensors aren't really involved...It's just a matter of seeing the wheel, feeling a rough ride, hearing a different noise than normal, or smelling something not quite right. The operators on platform all know what to look for. Plus, after being at the same ride day in and day out, you get a feel for what is normal sounding/looking/smelling/feeling.

Bad wheel...Bad game.

Not to be a stickler, but the wheels are not rubber. They're either nylon or some other material I can't think of right now. I'm sure someone else can though.

Wheels are either nylon or polyurethane

I'm glad you guys are on top of things! When I saw the wheel I actually went into panic mode and kept asking myself, what if no one spotted it and the train launched with the wheel in that condition? I'm glad I stayed in line!

kirk06 said:
Wheels are either nylon or polyurethane

Thanks for correcting me on that one

Well I was there and while I personally wasnt there to witness the replacement, Mark Small was in the station when it happened and told me what happened. I could also see the new wheel that was replaced so Im guessing that if it was something more serious (like if something was wrong with the wheel assembly), then I doubt they would have put the new wheel on all together.

I wish they'd send me their used wheels. I'm designing a built-in desk/room divider with a movable section for my loft and want to use coaster wheels on the bottom. But, it's hard finding coaster wheels for sale individually. :)

It's very simple Tim. Just go up to Monty, tell him to look in some direction, then simply take one, put it in your shirt and no one will be the wiser.:)

Well, I wasn't actually in the station when they transferred the train off, but I was there when maintenance showed up with the new wheel. It was the back wheel on the right side of green train. They were replacing it when I made it up to the launch position.

^^ I asked the park if I could a couple from them. They said no because all used wheels are destroyed. That doesn't seem very friendly to the environment. But, I'm assuming they do that so one of their used wheels doesn't find its way to another coaster somewhere and cause an accident.

Here's what was funny about the entire incident. After the announcement was made that TTD was closed, an empty train was launched that did not clear the top hat. This was pretty cool to see BTW. After that the train with the bad wheel was removed & a different train was added. The ride then started again and the train was launched. As it was accelerating most in the station were yelling & encouraging TTD as if it were The Little Engine That Could. I think most who didn't see the wheel thought TTD shutdown because of an issue with the launch system. I would of thought the same thing If I wasn't in front near the gates.

I get the feeling you mean that the wheel bearing in the center was bad, not the tread. Am I correct? I would imagine that the bearings go bad quite often. I replace automobile wheel bearings often enough, so I would think something that accelerates to 120mph and decelerates back to zero time and time again every day for 5 months of the year would eat them up pretty quickly.
*** Edited 9/5/2007 1:26:30 AM UTC by MillenniumMadMan***

A little more info on TTD breakdown on 9/3/07,

I was in line for TTD right along the track near the entrance when i saw the "green" train pass by. The Left rear wheel was badly shaking. The closed the ride and moved the train ofthe track and moved the purpple train on. Now as i was getting on the ride broke down not even 5 min later. Something to do with sensors with the launch. i wonder if that may have had anything to do with the wheel problem.

Accidental train launch, eh? :)

^^ - nice job jinxing the ride.