This article appeared on news.com. It seems the wheel can't handle the heat!!
"THE operators of Melbourne's crippled giant observation wheel say they may have to wait until the end of the week before they know when it will start turning again.
The giant Southern Star ferris wheel was shut down last Friday after Melbourne's three-day heatwave caused buckling in a bracing member and cracking in one of the steel tubes that hold up the wheel.
Engineers from Japan are inspecting the 120-metre-tall wheel and assessing what repair work needs to be done.
The chairman of the Southern Star Management Group, Fred Maybury, said the wheel, which cost $100 million and only opened on December 20, was under warranty and all work would be carried out at no charge.
“The excessive heat we've had in Melbourne caused one of the members to buckle and that's created some cracking in the bracing structure up towards the hub,” he told AAP.
”There's nothing in danger of falling off but it's something we want to rectify and make sure it doesn't happen in the future.”
He said the cost of repairs was not an issue because of the warranty.
”The suppliers are working with us so (cost) isn't an issue,” Mr Maybury said.
”It's more of an issue of the down time and the inconvenience.''
He said it was disappointing for Melbourne's newest sightseeing attraction to be out of action so soon after opening.
”Here we are with a brand new major tourist attraction and we've encountered this problem which became apparent during the excessive heat - it's extremely disappointing.”