a fairground life (feet up)

The weather the last two weekends killed any chance of scraping up a few quid before everything is packed up until Easter. The heavy rain was bad enough but the gale force winds put the top hat on it. We didn't have them problems in the secc, every day was exactly the same climate wise and it doesn't take long to get soft, so the wind and rain felt doubly icy. I had planned to do wonders this week, but as usual the plans didn't materialise and it wasn't all the weathers fault either. Its been a long season and we are well into extra time, its time to get it all packed away. Saturday was a nightmare, the wind was gusting at around 50 mph and we had to close early. I was thankful we weren't pulling down that night, not that we would have been able to in those conditions. Sunday started off wet and quickly got worse as heavy snow fell. An hour later and the weather cleared again, but not for long. We struggled on until 5:30pm when we chucked the towel in. The crew arrived to help "r" on the skydiver while I did the miami. I was just lowering the back flash as a freak gust came. Another few second earlier and it could have been nasty as all the securing irons were all removed. Shortly before 8:30 pm we were finished, the skydiver was coupled up but not the miami. We were soaked through and I decided to call it a night. The next morning we arrived to finish off. All went well except for the batteries on the Foden being totally flat. The 420A charger was employed to start the lorry, it took several attempts and fuse replacements before we succeeded. The trip to the yard was thankfully uneventful, the ERF ec10's bump bump bump returned on the front wheel. I think 'ss' is correct about it being brake related as when I braked it went away. I'll get the hub off for a look one day. I parked the rides up along side the DZ which had been put away the week before. Job done for another season, I'll get my feet up for a couple of weeks and then it will start all over again.

a fairground life (feet up)

The weather the last two weekend killed any chance of scraping up a few quid before the 

a fairground life (oh,what another day!)

Arrived early this morning to check out another suspected ball race failure. After 3 hrs we had inspected all races and they were fine. So far so good. However when we opened at noon the ride wouldn't go! We re-traced all the obvious steps but to no avail. Just out of pure luck the previous owner from London was in the secc to help his brother pack up tonight with another ride. He pointed out a 'rectifier' that they had had problems with on another ride (not the dz). So we managed to borrow a replacement rectifier from the ghost train as they use them. Sure enough with the new rectifier fitted, a suspect fuse jiggled and a 30v ,1 watt bulb replaced the ride finally worked. So we though to try our old rectifier again in case it wasn't the problem in the first instance. NO GO, so we refit the borrowed one again, the wrong way around and blew it sky high along with two fuses. Cap in hand we borrow another rectifier from the ghost train and carefully put it on. Yippee! 4 hours late but we are finally open. 

Thank you to everyone who helped out, especially IS who had experience from owning this exact type ride until earlier this summer. 

Only a few hours to go then we will be pulling down. Hope to be out of here before 1am all going well.

a fairground life (oh,what a week!)

What a week, hope the rest of the year isn't as unlucky. 

1st and I notice a click from the DZ whilst the ride climbs. "r" concludes it a ball race again, similar to the problem in August.

2nd we arrive early in the morning and lower the tower over the speedbuzz. Soon after we have the suspect ball races out and although they looked ok on first glance, as soon as "r" removed one it crumbled. So we replaced the pair and had the ride ready for 10:30am.The secc was mega busy that day and 4000 were turned away from the doors. Later at 5:30pm we have a small problem with a lapbar refusing to open. A small hiccup that only needed a small adjustment screw changed. Then 15 minutes later and the DZ strips two bolts. That was the ride closed for the evening. Just pure and simple abuse, non stop hard work for the ride over the previous weeks had taken its toll. That night we got replacement bolts for the ride. 

3rd at 9am we are back in early and replace the two faulty bolts and the remaining two good bolts (taking no chances). 

3rd that evening I get a phone call and the compressor on the skydiver has packed in. So we have to borrow one to keep going. 4th and the santa train goes on the blink. Since I cant be in two places at once and bro still down with pneumonia, we have to close it. 

5th I'm up early to get to the mall and fix the train. This I do as its only a blown fuse, while I'm there we notice a couple of wheels are wearing down so we end up changing them. At least that's a job less for next year. 

6th and a guide wheel ball race goes on the DZ . Not a big problem but it still needs replacing. 

7th Oh! and that whinning from the jeep diffs is back and getting worse, bloody stupid kia supplying wrong size spare wheels!!!!!  I've told her indoors that 9 is an unlucky number, no doubt time will tell. 

Since then the DZ has been completely NDT'd, all bolts,tower welds and rope connections with no defects. Maybe I'm just para?

a fairground life (things can only get better)

Well what a start to the year! 1/1/09 and we arrive at the secc and discover that a ballrace is clicking on the ride. The next morning we arrive at 8:30am and lower the tower over the speedbuzz. We remove the pulleys similar to how we did it in August. The races look ok but sure enough as soon as "r" taps one out, it crumbles. So we fit two new ones. Job done for 11am. 2/1/09 and the compressor fails on the skydiver, the piston seizes in the block and snaps the belt.So we have to borrow one to get us open again. 3/1/09 the DZ strips two bolts from a mounting block. There is no alternative but to close until we get replacements. The next morning we arrive on site early again and replace all bolts including the other good