[TheCoasterMan1]

Most likely if there is vibration then a wheel or wheels need to be replaced. I will be one to say that I think Fury has always had a slight vibration. However it's very minor and only in certain places so I don't complain. It's still a smooth and world class ride and I can brave a little shake. After 5 years I have yet to feel any vibrations on Intimidator!

[cameronmbrown1]

I'm glad someone brought that up because Fury was uncomfortably rough yesterday. It might have been a matter of where I was sitting but I remember walking off with a mild headache. I didn't mention it out of fear of looking like a douche.

I hope I don't sound like a douche but the ride just wasn't as smooth as usual yesterday. On one of the last rides at like 10:25, we were headed up the hill and there was a terrifying "thunk" over and over and over again. As soon as the started to fly down the hill, it just stopped and the vibration began.

[uscbandfan]

I don't think it's "wear" necessarily. If you'll look back, I rode Fury the first week it opened back in March and posted this about it. First ride was front row and smooth as silk. Second ride was 5th row and I thought my teeth were going to be vibrated out of my head. I mentioned then that if my second ride had been my first, I probably wouldn't have gotten back on it. It was THAT BAD.

I haven't noticed it that bad since then, but it's always been there. To me it FEELS like a flat spot on tire. Since we all know that Fury doesn't have tires and that the wheels aren't used for braking, I have no idea. I DO think it needs to be addressed though. I would definately have more Fury rides if it weren't there. And, you are correct, I have NEVER felt ANY vibration on Intimidator... in any seat.

[kirkgun]

I wonder if if what you all are describing is actually buffeting. Buffeting is NOT the act of repeatedly gorging yourself at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet in the casino.

buffeting [noun] (pronounced buf-fet-ing) is an "irregular oscillation, caused by turbulence"

buffet [verb] (buf-fet, NOT buf-fay ) is to "strike repeatedly and violently; batter (especially of wind or waves) "

Travelling at up to 95 mph in an open air train will do that to you.

I ride motorcycles and the battle against buffeting is a constant battle for riders who ride long tours. Motorcyclists are always talking about different windshields (and buying new ones, and modifying sizes and shapes) and helmets to minimize buffeting. Fury has loads of buffeting, some seats have more than others (the turbulence varies at different speeds and different locations on the train). That's just the nature of going that fast in the open air, in an incredibly un-aerodynamic vehicle, very similar to riding motorcycles at high speeds. And depending on wind direction and speed, the buffeting gets substantially increased or decreased.

Although the thunking mentioned above, going up the hill, definitely sounds like bad wheel or bearing. And that can certainly be fixed easily.

The only way to stop buffeting, would be to suck all the air out of the area (bad idea for breathing) or to enclose the people inside of a sealed and aerodynamic train (which would be no fun).

I find row 3 to be the row that I notice the least amount of buffeting. I would also say the ride has always been very smooth. The only roughness I have noticed is the buffeting (which increases and decreases depending on seat, and wind). Stick your face out the windows of your car as you go 70+ mph down the highway (no, don't really do this). You'll have a headache in a couple minutes. Again, that's the nature of traveling fast through open air.

[uscbandfan]

^ If that's true and it is JUST buffeting, then there are things you can do aerodynamically to the train to fix it. It definitely the TRAIN vibrating and NOT the rider. I can feel it in the seat. Maybe alter the nose or add elements to the side of the train to change how the train hits the wind. Maybe even tweak the aerodynamic shape of the seats. Maybe that's why Intimidator doesn't vibrate because of the offset-seats. Who knows. They tweak the noses of NASCAR cars all the time to enhance how they go through the wind. Even adding and subtracting fractions of inches to the nose profile or side skirting makes a lot of difference. I'm sure Carowinds does NOT want a ride like I had on my second ride. It was BAD. Worse than my worst ride on TR or Hurler. I rode same seat on row 5 last Thursday and it wasn't near as bad... but the vibration was there.

If that's what it is, I hope Carowinds gets with the B&M engineers to work on fixing it. Either way, whether its a wheel vibration or whether it's air buffeting, it CAN be fixed. They CAN figure it out.

Mike? If you don't read this forum, I hope someone who does tells you of this problem. A world-class ride of this caliber shouldn't vibrate you to death...in ANY seat. It should be just as silk-smooth as Intmidator,

[KIJester]

...interesting!

I305 - 90mph (5 years running)
MF - 93mph (15 years running)
TTD - 120mph (12 years running)
Kingda Ka - 128mph (10 years running)


all Intamin AG and NO rattle/shake/vibration

Just sayin'

[tarheel1231]

I can't speak for Kingda Ka or I305, and I remember TTD being fairly smooth, but Millennium Force has developed a bit of a rattle. It's not as violent as Fury's but it's definitely there.

[Edwardo]

Kinda Ka rattles like a mofo...

And that's the least of its problems.

But what's more interesting is the fact that:

MF has had to have a support replaced because of clearance issues where people's hands were hitting the support.

I305 had to have a whole section redesigned and has a problem with melting wheels.

TTD has had multiple problems including a train redesign because the original train threw off some theming into a crowd. Not to mention all the downtime all those years.

Kinda Ka had pieces of track that literally did not fit and had to be "wedged" in, had a catastrophic failure of its launch system that resulted in major problems for the ride and almost got the whole ride removed, was shut down for long periods of time. Would very likely have killed someone had the catastrophic failure happened during park hours and not testing, and I could really go on but I'm not entirely at liberty to say what all other problems it has and has had.

But, you know, a new Beemer gets rattled likely due to a bad wheel so let's bring up intamin (who can't even design a log flume, a ride that's been around decades, without it almost killing someone).

Just sayin'.

[chknwing]

^^^ I'll trade a little rattle over constant mechanical issues and rollbacks anyday

[kirkgun]

^Those roll-backs do look kind of fun to me, though.

Am I the only one that finds Fury a completely enjoyable ride? Fury is fast, and it's intense. The air that I am battered with is part of the nature of speed, and being fully exposed to air turblence at that speed. And I am fully happy with Fury, as it is.

I've ridden many dozens of times, from the week it opened until last Thursday. I don't have any complaint about ride quality at all.

Intimidator is much smoother. But even with the smoothness, Intimidator is much much less fun to me.

[Chris]

Fury not smooth? I've heard it all!

[TheCoasterMan1]

Fury is a smooth ride. I think it's being a bit blown out of proportion. Every ride is not going to be silk smooth. If there is one please let me know because I need to ride it.

[tarheel1231]

*cough cough* Griffon *cough cough*

[theintimidator]

Montu was glass smooth.

[dabrian]

Ive ridden Fury countless times and it's been smooth every ride.