screamingnight Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 I have always wondered what would happen if a wheel broke when Vortex is going through an inversion or any other part of the track. I know its kinda of a dumb question but I have always been curious and it has been driving me crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenageninja Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 More than likely nothing. There would be three other wheels of it's type (running, guide, or upstop) for that car, I dont' think it would be much of an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braves0511 Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Except when the pieces smack someone in the face...that would suck would what's left of the wheel still on the car catch the track and one tear the track and train up...but also slow it down a lot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great America Guy Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 ^ Just like Demon at SFGAm. The broken pieces caught a track tie, thus jamming the train upside down in a loop for 4 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 I have heard Vortex lossing a wheel before during the ride. I'm sure it could happen, you just don't want an axle to fail, then you would have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Nothing would/has happen(d). They would/do close and fix it and everything would/is be peachy keen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 If a wheel broke the ride probaly just wouldn't make it around the course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkifootballer Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 The ride has 5 other wheels on the car that insure safety in the ride. Issues like that come into consideration when they build the ride; they make several modifications to the wheels so that an issue like the wheel breaking don't happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Also if properly maintained an issue with the wheels should be noticed before one either disentagrates or just falls off. Just stating the obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutedarkness Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 They should theme Vortext like Devil's flight from Final destination 3. Looks very alike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screamingnight Posted December 19, 2006 Author Share Posted December 19, 2006 They should theme Vortext like Devil's flight from Final destination 3. Looks very alike Nobody would ride it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I would ride it but its not even close to The Vortex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I HAVE ridden that coaster. It's at PNE Playland in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's quite fun, but bears little resemblance to Vortex. For one thing, it's a Vekoma. For another, it's painted much more like the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags in New Jersey (one reason it was picked). It also used to operate at Boblo Island, near Detroit. Here's Corkscrew, the coaster in question: http://www.rcdb.com/ig319.htm?picture=5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Is this a traveling coaster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 If a wheel broke the ride probaly just wouldn't make it around the course. Actually it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Vortex DOES lose wheels from time to time. Well, actually, it loses it's "tires." The wheels are coated with a rubberized polyurethane that over time wears and can strip off much like a blown tire on the road. When I worked at PKI years ago, and was on Beast crew, we would occasionally hear one blow or hear the sound of a running train that had a blown wheel. When we heard it, we'd simply call The Vortex station and they'd cycle off the train for maintenance. Shaggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Very well put. I once went in on my day off and rode Beast and heard the THWACK THWACK THWACK coming from Vortex as the train dropped. But the train was empty so they were already aware of the situation. I saw it several times - and it typically only shuts the ride down for 5-10 minutes. The train has no problem making it around the track - even empty. But they still fix it right away. Those little tiny wheels get HOT. Don't know how much detail I can go into - but basically the wheel has a small radius - so considering the train moves at 55mph it heats up. This can cause the vinyl or whatever it is (it feels like really really hard plastic) to heat up and come off. But theres plenty of spare wheels - as it is something that is inevitably going to happen. Some parks even give blown wheels out at enthusiast events since coaster nerds like that kind of stuff. A friend of mine has a wheel from Superman: Ride of Steel at SFNE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 The wheels are either nylon or vinyl. Im surprised there hasnt been more work done in developing stronger and more durable wheels. Especially with the speeds some of the newer coasters have acheived. I would think paying a little more for wheels upfront and having them last longer would be more economical than having cheaper wheels that you replace more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIDelirium Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 The wheels are a type of nylon. Polyurethane I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN1993 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Are these Vortex wheels? Pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Dunno - but this is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Vortex DOES lose wheels from time to time. Well, actually, it loses it's "tires." The wheels are coated with a rubberized polyurethane that over time wears and can strip off much like a blown tire on the road. When I worked at PKI years ago, and was on Beast crew, we would occasionally hear one blow or hear the sound of a running train that had a blown wheel. When we heard it, we'd simply call The Vortex station and they'd cycle off the train for maintenance. Shaggy Speaking from similar personal experience, that is one of the the worst sounds in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I've heard worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 Seriously probably nothing more unnerving than ridding a steel multi looper when it sheds a wheel. Bet that makes a heck of a sound and racked, with a real nice thud. I always thought it would be horrible to be stuck upside down partially through an inversion just hanging in your restraints. Thats one thing I have never experienced while ridding a coaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 O thats pretty cool then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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