When do rides die?

What are some reason parks decide to remove a ride?
do rides have a life span?
how come some ride stay down for years?
When do wood rollercoasters expire?
We'll find out Today!!!
Well that sucks, I lost the last little bit of the video.
And I don’t save these once I make them so it’s truly lost. Oh well you didn’t miss much I was just in ramble mode.
Stay off the airgates!

[@ryantheridemechanic]

I don’t know what happened. The last bit of the video is cut off. Unfortunately I don’t keep backups so the last little bit is gone. Oh well. Basically I just explained that when you have another supplier take over the ride, the original manufacturer won’t provide parts to you anymore.

[@kmccurdy21]

I thought you were messing with us. 😂

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@kmccurdy21 I’m kicking myself for it. I love when I ramble hahaha!!

[@Colaholiker]

Now you know for next time: upload, verify that it is complete and only THEN delete it on your computer 🤓

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@Colaholiker yea I just did. Next one is 1hr 25 min. When it finished upload it said 42min…. I’m like no, redo!

[@JEdwardBanasikJr]

The lawyers cut his feed.

[@Livk57]

New ASTM guideline idea: after 30 years of operation, all wooden coasters must add "Theseus'" to the original name. Theseus' Cyclone, Theseus' Wildcat, etc.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Makes sense haha!

[@bassjasinski]

B&M must put a life span on the coasters they sell to Universal 😂

[@Posirep]

Hulk I think runs the most cycles of any coaster anywhere so that tracks. Dueling Dragons I think didnt have a lifespan issue, they just couldn't duel it anymore cuz people suck and ruined it for everyone and it didnt fit the Harry Potter theme and just wanted it gone cuz theyre Universal and money is no object

[@riolu2667]

26:25 You're thinking of Wicked Twister. Was actually sad to see that one go just like Volcano at King's Dominion. I think what I've heard the most about both of those were that they were maintenance nightmares but didn't really elaborate too much on it at the time.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Thanks for the name. Yes, Suspended intamin impulse coaster are very rough to maintain. They are very high up and very big and heavy. Then they are so tall. All that equals lots of stress on the frames and components. Along with an aging drive system that intamin won’t support unless it’s completely replaced.

[@nixon2tube]

@@ryantheridemechanic Also add on that they, by definition, only have the one train, so if it fails, that ride is 100% down.

[@damonappel]

Based on what you're saying, then: The Cedar Point retrofit of Top Thrill Dragster into Top Thrill 2 must be a really landmark case. Since Zamperla must've agreed to take liability for the remaining Intamin-built top hat (and a good 70% of the original structure that will remain).

[@ryantheridemechanic]

I doubt the company will ever revile their inner working of a contract but I can almost guarantee that Intamin washed their hands of that ride.

[@jackschissler255]

@@ryantheridemechanicaccording to Dick Kinzel, that was one of the worst coasters he agreed to put in. It was plagued by many issues from day one. And what top off the relationship divorce with Intamin was the accident and issues with Shoot the rapids. Now Zamperla has to come out smelling like a Rose now cause they took on this huge coaster and the problems that plagued it and now they are trying to make it better.

[@keithchristner4522]

Kennywood is a REALLY good example of a park that has a great maintenance team that can keep all of their old historical rides in really good shape. Except Thunderbolt! I say RMC that one yesterday! 🤣

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Haha! Good to know. It seems the new equation is either RMC over history or history over RMC. Just depends on the park as the variable.

[@michaezell4607]

I think people have become spoiled by the newer rides that they simply can't tolerate a snappy ride on a classic coaster like thunderbolt for example.

[@jackschissler255]

Kennywood just announced that Steel Curtain will be down the entire 2024 season due to issues. Ya Even tho S&S built the coaster, it’s almost as if Intamin built it with all the issues it has. Good choice Kennywood

[@AmusementLabs]

The Giant Discovery is by Soriani if i remember correctly. The cost i had heard was a ballpark of 5-7M once everything was said and done.

[@CoastersThrillsAndAirtimeHills]

Nemesis at Alton Towers had a complete refurbishment. I think it was 30 years old. I hate the word iconic lol - but nemesis is definitely an iconic coaster in the U.K. We also have so many old woodies. The big dipper at Blackpool pleasure beach is 100 years old.

[@spinba11]

It’ll be 30 this year

[@CoastersThrillsAndAirtimeHills]

@@spinba11 it will indeed. A lot of people are questioning whether it’s 30 due to the retrack but I guess the name, concept and layout as well as the station and lift hill is 30 years old lol

[@IAmAnonymyz]

Lmmfao that explains why SFDK took FOREVER to refurbish Vertical Velocity.... Bet that thing had a SHIT ton of cracks. Also explains why the initial launch now seems a bit more "mediocre". I love how you touched on the drive system for the Impulse. Explains why so many of them have the top spike holding brakes turned off

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Holding brake was too much stress for sure.

[@IAmAnonymyz]

@@ryantheridemechanic yeah but man was that Impulse great the first year or so at Discovery Kingdom when it was activated. It was also at full height until Vallejo found out they cheated on the height listing. Once the tape measure came out 150ft was found to be 180ft which is why it has that 45° angle inline twist

[@CJWJR]

I remember going to Six Flags Over Georgia with my youth group in August of 2002, and we wanted to ride Dejavu. Unfortunately, it was closed that day due to maintenance issues. In fact, over the 6 or 7 years that it was there, I think it was down for maintenance more than it was up and running. Watching this video helps explain why. Thanks!

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Your welcome. Yep sometimes a “fix” still doesn’t mean you can operate the ride that way.

[@matb9027]

Nemesis at Alton Towers has just had a retrack after nearly 30y of operation. So glad it’s getting a new lease of life.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

That’s pretty awesome. Just a testament to that rides layout!!

[@matb9027]

@@ryantheridemechanic yeah it’s my local park - rode it opening year so really looking forward to riding it when it re-opens later this year. It’s still world class 3 decades later.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

The new track looks great with the new paint.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@Spike-sk7ql yes it does look very nice.

[@danlastname9002]

​@@ryantheridemechanicThey can't really do anything other than retracks with that plot of land anyway! It's an issue that's only going to be more prevalent over time with Towers.

[@IAmAnonymyz]

Lol that's like the 3rd SFDK Ride I've seen. Is that where you used to work? Intamin Impulse, I swore I saw Roar and that pendulum was definitely Tasmanian Devil an old Huss Flatspin

[@tommargosian7701]

Love the video! Just wondering, seems like it cuts off in the middle of an explanation - was there a conclusion to that?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Yes. I pinned it at the top. Yea I don’t know what happened? Unfortunately I don’t keep backups so the last little bit is gone. Oh well. Basically I just explained that when you have another supplier take over the ride, the original manufacturer won’t provide parts to you anymore.

[@ArtBarn591]

When does a Ryan video die? Lol nice touch even if unintentional.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

As soon as it’s not watched. So it’s like Schrodinger’s cat. The video is both alive and dead until you see if it was viewed.

[@arthanza112]

Any scrap yard willing to pay "Top Dollar!"

[@garywillis7253]

Steel fatigues over time..cost/availability of parts ,populatirity..Etc...I'm sure you know that better than anyone...Don't like your Intamin tombstone though..lol..Millennium force is 24 yrs old and is still smooth as glass and valravn is less than 10 yet is surprisingly rough..Maverick 2007 is still smooth as glass...B&M should be on that stone..lol...Another great vid

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Thanks. I thought about putting a bunch of names on there. Then ride names on there. In the end I settled on Intamin. As you can tell from the video it’s not aimed at anyone specifically.

[@BamaRailfan]

I'll agree that Maverick is very smooth, but Valravn smoother than Millennium? Not so sure about that. Not that either of them are rough, but Millennium definitely has a bit of a rattle in some parts. I've never experienced a rough ride on Valravn..except the final brake run..that sucks! Lol

[@garywillis7253]

​@BamaRailfan Ride an edge seat or the one next to it and it will shake the hell out of you..Millennium for its age is smooth as can be for the speed it travels,I've never had a bad ride

[@Posirep]

​@@BamaRailfanValravn is the roughest dive Ive been on...still doesnt compare to how rough its B&M neighbor Rougarou is. That thing succcckkks

[@johnfoltz8183]

There probably little to no original components left to Wild One coaster at Six Flags America. When it was rebuilt at the park probably most of the wood was replaced with newer wood .

[@laursleo]

Old growth wood from that time period is actually significantly stronger and more durable than modern growth wood.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

And the station always houses the oldest wood of the ride. (From what I’ve seen)

[@jacobhershberger8643]

My dad’s 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 has over 430000 miles. All he has done is replace parts when they need them and changes the oil when it is way overdue. It still runs great. He still abuses it like hauling horses etc. (I is a rust bucket)

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Haha! Trucks are great for abuse!

[@dangamber5707]

Nice video, mechanical engineering is used in everything. Maintenance is essential key to long life.

[@Darkage-io4sl]

It really like you said does depend on the park to take care of the ride. Some parks decide to tear down the coaster and others do a full retrack or they have extra maintenance on top of everything. Kumba is a 30 year old B&M and they take a month every year to overhaul the trains and do a full inspection on the track. It might get a full retrack like nemesis or hulk but every time i ride it after the overhaul it runs very well, not brand new but you can tell the thing is taken care of.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

That’s a good thing. Parks at quick to not spend money because it’s a “new ride” then 10 years down the rodeo they complain because the ride is costing more than “usual” to operate….. usual was nothing. Maintain it like that and you will soon have nothing to maintain.

[@coastqr5123]

Hopefully Viper at SFMM stays around for a hella long time!

[@MrMakoFL]

Same for Scorpion BGT

[@rexnewcombe8337]

Thats probably why Knott's isn't going to rebuild Montezoomas Coaster. It was a Swartzkoof Co. that doesn't exist and now it's too old, but people are so obsessed that it should be rebuilt. They just don't get it and understand how much it will cost to so I think that Cedar Fair is going to remove it, unless they found a new Manufacturer.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

They probably don’t want to put $2M into an old ride that’s so small. And the novelty to keep it was the flywheel launch. So it would just be a basic ride if they retrofitted it.

[@johnfoltz8183]

Volcano the Blast Coaster was riddled with problems since it was a prototype and was down more than it was working. I heard somewhere in 2018, they needed to replace all the bolts on coaster. The ride was SBNO for most of the 2018 season. Finally in early 2019, the decision was made to demolish the ride.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Those style rides chewed through hardware in the reaction fin areas.

[@Scjheinen]

Great video again! Is there a ride that you where sad about that you had to retire? I haven't experienced it yet, but I can see some rides I would be sorry to see go.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Well at the park we had a Gerslaur (I probably spelled that wrong) spitting coaster that we relocated to another park. I was sad to see that go because it was really fun to work on. Personally, it was the Willards wizzr in Northern California great America, but there is a clone at great America in Chicago that I just recently road. So much fun.

[@dindog22]

I bet those RMC coasters have a lot of fatigue. the structure of Steel Vengeance sways a lot

[@ryantheridemechanic]

All the stress goes into the wood then bolted connections so they should last a long time as well.

[@dindog22]

@@ryantheridemechanic what do you think about Indiana Beach buying that old Mexican Death Coaster and refurbishing it? it's a really old Schwartzkopf that's been at a lot of parks. why isn't that thing at the end of it's life?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@dindog22 from what I’ve see there’s 2 things going in there. 1) Schwarzkopf rides are built like tanks and they have a long life because of that. 2) parks invest a lot of money when moving a ride to make “long term” repairs and overhauls that, normally, the ride would not get. Breathing more life back into the ride. Those Schwarzkopf rides are very strong though. Trains are a little flimsy but not bad.

[@dindog22]

@@ryantheridemechanic thanks for the answer. I always learn new things from you. I did not know how tough those rides were

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@dindog22 your welcome

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Wicked Twister is the name of the CP impulse you were looking for. Did you guys have trouble with the welds on tge ride too, and not just the trains?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Track was never a problem. Trains went through the wringer for sure.

[@Posirep]

​@ryantheridemechanic I wonder if that was cuz you guys had the weird impulse that had the one end that didnt go straight up

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@Posirep I could see more failures in upstops and bushings, things like that. But in the drive assembly? We did learn lots that the park was never doing. Coming the plate bases in friction paint, re shimming as the train needed it. We had a lot of impact up there because the motors mid track went straight for some reason. Stuff like that.

[@thelis4u]

I know you talked about this a little bit in this video, but you didn't go very in-depth into it. Who actually makes the call for when a ride is going to be removed? Is it a recommendation from maintenance, and then corporate makes the final decision? Do you guys make the decision and corporate just goes with it? Or something else?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

The park normally makes the decision. The general manger with the advice from PR, finance, and maintenance. The corporate decides if they want to scrap it, save it, or relocate it.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

The saddest thing for any enthusiast

[@CyberBlastStudios]

I heard somewhere that B&M actually has a set number of cycles the ride can do before it's end of life, is that true?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

I know B&M runs maintenance cycles off cycles or time (which ever one is shorter) but have never heard of an end of life for trains or track from them.

[@Whatchamawhozit]

Zamperla Giant Discovery is 2.5M dollars

[@prutteltje1300]

What do you think about the reincarnation of the VeKoMa Tilt-coaster.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

It’s a pretty cool gimmick. I know I would go on it if I had the chance. I’m sure the park knows this and hope it will attract everyone to the park. On top of the Gimmick, you get a full size rollercoaster to put under your belt. So a win win. I also feel like those tilt coasters are much scarier for people to ride compared to dive machine. People’s minds during the tilt will definitely be focused on “what is preventing us for falling off this track right now!!”

[@prutteltje1300]

In my mind it looks like you get 4 for 1. At first you have the anticipation on the lift hill. Second the seesaw motion of going up or down. Third the wait for the dive and the dive itself and at last the track layout. What more can you get from a coaster itself?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@prutteltje1300 absolutely agree. And im a Vekoma fan, so im sure they will continue to support their product if issues arise.

[@prutteltje1300]

I sent some pics to your email of the testing at the factory nearby my home (approx 7km)

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@prutteltje1300 thank you! I replied to it as well!

[@coasternut2022]

How did Zamperla pull off the redo of Top Thrill 2?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

In what respect?

[@jackschissler255]

They did not walk away yet. They got to come out smelling like a rose on this one. Everyone is gonna be scrutinizing this. They are taking a huge undertaking. If they do good, other parks might have them fix other Intamin issue rides.

[@MrMakoFL]

Sad about MonteZOOMa’s Revenge 😢

[@ryantheridemechanic]

What’s going on with that? I’m not good at keeping up on the rumors. I know they stoped work and donated parts of the loop. Seems like not a good thing.

[@MrMakoFL]

@@ryantheridemechanic someone took a picture of the train at the roller coaster museum now whether or not that was one of the original trains because I know obviously the only operate with one

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@MrMakoFL I have seen that one. Makes sense as the train would need to be replaced. The eyebrows raised with the loop, I’m like “uhhhh” that’s not good. Then they stopped all progress. I’m hoping it was temporary due to the merger to Cedar Flags (haha) but might be a mail in the coffin

[@MrMakoFL]

@@ryantheridemechanic really sad that such a classic could be no more but hey, it was in service for quite a long time so that’s a good thing but still

[@ellexking9136]

Cedar Point definitely knows how to Maintain their older Rollercoasters. But Magnum XL2Painful needs a New Track Overhaul, and the Airtime Hills after The Pretzel Turn Around needs to be Reprofiled to be like that of Mamba at World's of Fun, and Steel Force at Dorney Park. Magnum XL2Painful is nothing but a Torture Device. Serious Black, and Blue Bruises to the thighs of riders.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

That’s no fun. Most parks won’t do anything until either the track or train start cracking unfortunately.

[@dentyH]

Yeah magnum could use retracking, but those triangle hills in the magic seat are pure airtime. Airie force one eat your heart out

[@thisguy_w0n]

Nobody makes airtime hills better than D.H. Morgan (I guess now Chance).....but dont mess with Magnum XL200! It's an icon.

[@AmusementLabs]

And then you have a piece of junk like the infamous Skywarp. God that thing was awful.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

‘‘Twas not a good thing for the park(s)

[@AmusementLabs]

@@ryantheridemechanic so...so loud

[@MrMakoFL]

Giant Discovery (Soriani formerly Soriani and Moser)

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Thank you, I would have butchered that name anyway haha!

[@MrMakoFL]

@@ryantheridemechanic the minute you had mentioned about who designed the ride I’m like I know exactly who.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@MrMakoFL don’t have an exact name for you sorry. But they would need that person to modify it if you wanted them to keep liability on the manufacture.

[@MrMakoFL]

@@ryantheridemechanic can’t wait for the flat ride episode

[@handledav]

when they're

[@Leftpeg8379]

What park do you work for?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

I’m out of the industry now. It’s one of the reasons I can do this channel. And I don’t say where I worked as I don’t want people to think I represent that park or that company. But if you watch videos you can easily figure it out.

[@Leftpeg8379]

@@ryantheridemechanic Ok👍

[@Posirep]

​@Leftpeg8379 Its pretty easy to figure out which park he worked for if you listen to the rides hes worked on... His park had an RMC hybrid, a Premier Skyrocket 2, B&M Floorless, Intamin Impulse, and a Vekoma SLC....piece it together

[@Leftpeg8379]

@@Posirep SF discovery kingdom?

[@jackschissler255]

I think he worked for a six flags company.

[@IntaminFanGRLPowerCoasters]

As an Intamin fan, the thumbnail hit me hard😢😢

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Luckily I don’t think they are going anywhere anytime soon.

[@IntaminFanGRLPowerCoasters]

@@ryantheridemechanic me neither:)

[@FAFO4wisdom]

20 years surprises you? Have you never heard of metal fatigue?

[@ryantheridemechanic]

I’ve worked on plenty for rides that were 40-50 years old. Like built in the early 70s. No issues with them. It was interesting to see an end of life date on equipment. Never see it before.

[@FAFO4wisdom]

@@ryantheridemechanic I have, I've worked on rides that are approaching the century mark, but have also seen many newer models that have a lifespan of 25-30 years. Its mind boggling to me that a Dentzel Carousel can still operate today, but a Chance Century from 94 cannot. Go figure.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

…..Schwarzkopf…..…. Haha n’uff said 😂

[@FAFO4wisdom]

@@ryantheridemechanic RIGHT!?!? Those old guys were onto something.

[@ryantheridemechanic]

@@FAFO4wisdom also most HUSS rides in that category as well.

[@chfilms1]

the end of the vid is missing it cuts off mid sentence

[@ryantheridemechanic]

Yea I don’t know what happened? Unfortunately I don’t keep backups so the last little bit is gone. Oh well. Basically I just explained that when you have another supplier take over the ride, the original manufacturer won’t provide parts to you anymore.