KDCOASTERFAN Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 As I was walking over to Dominator while at KD yesterday I took note of the infamous B&M ball just sitting in it's usual spot on the storage track & got to wondering just how it is that they can run that thing through the station & up the lift? Sure they can back it up onto the brakerun & do the inspections starting from there & working backwards along the circuit but then another question arises....just how are they even able to operate the ball with the brake calipers in the way? We've all seen that clip on the project extreme episode playing in the queue where they show the ball in operation starting at the base of the loop but has anyone ever seen it in operation while at a park? Just curious I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDipper 80 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I just looked that thing up. I had no idea that it existed! Do all B&M's have that? I don't really see how the brakes would get in the way of operating it. I would assume that it was designed to fit through the space (simply not having the bar on the bottom of it that the brakes squeeze to stop the train).But maybe I'm misunderstanding the question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbydinn Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 ^ Link? I'm trying to look it up and haven't found anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeMan Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Take a look at the video - it's on the DIY network website. The car is designed to clear the brake calipers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I just looked that thing up. I had no idea that it existed! Do all B&M's have that? I don't really see how the brakes would get in the way of operating it. I would assume that it was designed to fit through the space (simply not having the bar on the bottom of it that the brakes squeeze to stop the train).But maybe I'm misunderstanding the question? Dominator originally had it because a lot of the track was over water. I think only the B&Ms that have a lot of track that's inaccessible by land have the maintenance ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDipper 80 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 That would make sense. I guess I never noticed it when the ride was still at GL. But it still is a nifty little thing, nonetheless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbeawannabe Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Is it just me or is that maintenance ball cuter than a bugs ear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odene497 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 How does it get up into big inversions? Or anywhere, really? I don't understand how it could be powered to push itself somewhere like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Whoa...imagine riding a full-speed ride on Dominator in that thing! Also, LMAO @ Hypersonic being in that episode! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 How does it get up into big inversions? Or anywhere, really? I don't understand how it could be powered to push itself somewhere like that... It has an engine on it that slowly creeps its way along the track. I'm pretty sure on the TV show that featured it they went into details, but I'm sure it has some kind of safety mechanism to keep it from becoming the world's smallest roller coaster train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Never seen that before, weird.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-RadG Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 How does it get up into big inversions? Or anywhere, really? I don't understand how it could be powered to push itself somewhere like that... It has an engine on it that slowly creeps its way along the track. I'm pretty sure on the TV show that featured it they went into details, but I'm sure it has some kind of safety mechanism to keep it from becoming the world's smallest roller coaster train. The wheels grip the track tightly and the small motor pushes it along. It takes approximately two hours for the B&M Ball to make it all the way around Dominator's course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calicoasters Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Silver Bullet at Knott's Berry Farm has it's own ball. I've never seen maintenance use it, but they say it takes about an hour and a half to complete it's course. I've seen it up close. It has two seats (seat belt only) back to back and joysticks on both sides. Though very slow, I imagine it is the most exciting way to ride a B&M! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STR8FXXXINEDGE Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 That's crazy! I had no idea that such a thing existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalCoasters Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I saw that thing at Knott's Scary Farm on Friday and was wondering what it was...thats interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davisal771 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I've never even heard of that thing It looks like it would be amazing to ride in it though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
let1gre Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Does anyone have a picture of this thing up close? I really want to know what it looks like on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 For those of you looking for it, THISis the video (or site, anyway) that was mentioned earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Haven't they given away rides in that ball as drawing prizes at various events? I could have sworn that at least one time at Solace a ride in that thing was given away. If given the chance, I'd definitely like to ride it. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Haven't they given away rides in that ball as drawing prizes at various events? I could have sworn that at least one time at Solace a ride in that thing was given away I'm not sure they ever gave away an entire ride, but I think they gave away the chance for someone to sit in and and drive it in the maintenance area or the lift hill. Like Cody says, it takes like 90 minutes to complete the circuit! I'm sure it's one of those "neat" things to be able to see up close, but then once you're in it for 20 minutes going at a snails pace...the novelty probably wears off after a bit. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 ^As if Silver Bullet didn't go at a leisurely enough pace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calicoasters Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 ^If ever had the chance I would love to see what it is like to take that thing though the loop and the zero-g roll! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matteocrepaldi Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Cool! I've never heard of this thing! I'll try to ask around if Katun has it or not. I'm curious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDipper 80 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 This was the only pic I could find of it, if anyone was curious. I don't know how I ever missed that thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Oh yes, the B&M ball for the Dominator, a handy device used by maintenace to insure that the Dominator's tracks are in good working order and to keep the personal safe so they won't have to risk life and limb climbing onto the track for inspection tours. Still, I prefer to ride the old-fashion way. "As for me, I prefer to be treated the old-fashion way: with somebody's head on me and heading towards dreamland!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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