Lionel SD40-2E Snagging Switch Machines

@HiramO posted:

My layout has Ross switches with dz1000 machines. Performance has been flawless with forty or fifty different locomotives. I recently took delivery of a Lionel NS SD40-2E . I'm delighted with the loco, with one issue. I find that the snow plow on the loco snags my switch machines, stopping the loco. Has anyone else dealt with this? I assume I will be re-configuring the snow plow...

Jan

How is it snagging, could you shoot a photo

What is the exact Lionel product number?  If this is a Legacy model with the Kinematic pilot, I have those hitting my manual switch throws in my yard as the pilot swings on curves.

The Lionel number is 2433281. It appears the snow plow is catching the center guard rail of the switch; this happens on multiple switches...  I have lots of switches; might have to take the dremel tool out and grind the snow plow...

@HiramO posted:

The Lionel number is 2433281. It appears the snow plow is catching the center guard rail of the switch; this happens on multiple switches...  I have lots of switches; might have to take the dremel tool out and grind the snow plow...

If you have a dentist you are friendly with, ask hi for a piece of plastic they use to check how your teeth are meshing. It is paper thin but will mark anything it hits. Place on bottom of snowplow and let it mark the obstruction or place on switch and see what is really hitting on engine.

The picture shows what is catching...  the plow catches the guard rail by less than 1/16 inch. Stops the loco cold... Fascinating to me; the track has been fine for over 18 years. I suspect Lionel simply has cut the clearance too close.  I can fix the snow plow; I'm curious whether others experience the same issue. It's possible my loco is riding too low due to a defect...?

The late Jim Barrett helped us out by suggesting a track pin be inserted into the problem rail. I do it all the time and bend the pin down slightly to allow the plow to ride up on the rail instead of snagging it.

Brilliant, thank you, so obvious after you mention it!

The plow should not be so low as to catch the center rail, I think that's the first problem!  I have a number of diesels with the plows, none have ever snagged any rails!