Why no chain lift?

Forgive me if this was answered long ago, but I'm looking for RideMan's (Dave's) expertise here.

I do not pretend to understand physics or mechanical things, but I was wondering if there is a physical limitation to chain lifts, i.e. could MF have used a traditional chain instead?

I'm not complaining about the elevator cable. Rather, I'm just curious as to whether or not there is a physical limit to the chain--height, speed, angle of incline, etc.

I'm not an expert, but if you think about it, it comes down to the weight. Would you rather lift ten feet of heavy duty chain, or lift ten feet of elevatore cable?

Magnum's lift chain weighs 7 ton.

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Brandon Sorc
Millennium Force count:36
www.spiritofthepoint.com

It is the weight. Magnum is only 2/3 the height of MF, so a chain on MF would weigh at least 10.5 tons!!! That's what I call a giga-chain. Plus, I work in a tool crib (similar to the one seen on Scream Parks) and I deal with various size chains and believe me, the bigger the chain, the more the cost.

Steel dragon in Japan will have two separate chain lifts. the second will take over half way up. So maybe there is a limit on chains. I would think so.

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Raptor Flights: 23
Force Rides: 14

Well, due to the space, the lift on MF had to be at a very steep angle (thus 45 deg.) in order to reach 310ft in that area, and I don't think a chain lift can support a 9 car train loaded with people at a 45 deg. angle. The force on the chain is considerably greater at that angle, since at 45 degrees, the chain is supporting as much weight as the track, while at 25 or 30 deg, the track supports most of the train weight.

Jman

The only thing I would've have wanted on this coaster would've been a chain. Call me selfish but I like the slow creep up the first hill. Probably wasn't possible......

Anybody know how fast it runs a coaster up to the top?

I agree about that slow creep up the hill! Gives you alot of time to second guess your sanity. But, on the other hand, my 10 year old son and I got on MF and were surprised at how fast we went up that hill and let me tell ya, it scared the crap out of both of us which was a thrill in itself. No time to resign ourselves to the fact that we really knew what we were doing. It was do or die and we LOVED it! MF is an AWESOME ride and we will recommend it highly!

Why don't they put an elevatore cable on Magnum?? I think they would have less problem with the chain breaking and stuff. PLUS CP can break another record with 2 cpaster over 90 mph!! Thats would be TOO sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!

What does adding a an elevator cable have to do with Magnum going 90mph?

To get Magnum going that fast, the cable would have to be traveling like 60 mph.

The angle doesn't matter, but the sheer weight of the chain does. The elevator lift is also faster, and that's critical for capacity.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 25