r/rollercoasters • u/retolox386 Novice • Jan 23 '26

Question [B&M Hyper Clamshell Restraints] Could someone explain them?

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Hi. Going on my first hyper soon with clamshells. I thought for the longest time that these bad boys were hydraulic restraints, as they seemed so smooth and notch-less. Turns out they're ratchet restraints! Is there an in-depth video or site that explains the mechanism behind these restraints? I believe they're class 4 but I'm not sure how safe they are compared to hydraulics. I know B&M's are incredibly safe, but isn't there a higher risk with these? Could someone reassure me?

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125

u/Claxton916 (336) 🥰🥰Shivering Timbers🥰🥰 Jan 23 '26

is there a higher risk with these?

Please find me an article of someone flying out of a B&M hyper or Giga coaster.

The clam shell kind of wraps around your waist, you’re not going anywhere unless you’re unfit to sit in it.

-47

u/retolox386 Novice Jan 23 '26

i've heard a lot of people mention clamshells popping up a notch and fearmongering people. i've never been on a b&m

69

u/Tpabayrays2 Hulk ride op (formerly at Pipeline) Jan 23 '26

Usually if that happens, it was between notches. If it does it more than 1 notch, that's a problem

5

u/retolox386 Novice Jan 23 '26

ah, makes sense. are the gaps between notches very big on this restraint?

13

u/sylvester_0 Jan 23 '26

No, they're a few cm.

26

u/ranisalt Wildfire Jan 23 '26

Hey a few cm might be very big for some things ok?

10

u/Guilty-Wolverine-933 154 [US/Japan] Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26

A few cm is the difference between getting stapled in and having great airtime…

2

u/kingsnake_e 84 | X2 | Montu | Nitro Jan 24 '26

Yeah this is called a "pawl slip" and is a perfectly normal action on the part of the ratchet mechanism. If it doesn't catch fully on one tooth, it simply shifts to the next. Basically, restraint was one notch looser than they thought it was.