New Lionel SD40E Clearance Issues with Ross Switches

I have had this occur with other locomotives.

I have Ross switches with z stuff machines.

They have two screws attaching the motor to the switch.

I just remove the inside screw (and make sure the outside screw is down tight) and everything is fine.

Some of my switch machines have had only one screw for over 10 years.

Interesting, I'll try it...  my switches are over 20 years old, first I've had this issue. Thank you.

I have no experience with the Z switch machines. Looking at the pictures on Ross’ site. Looks like a Panhead screw. You might just get enough clearance by substituting a flat head screw with a tapered head. Maybe even drop a screw size and just use a longer screw to get it sitting close to flush.

Thanks guys, just tried removing a screw...  at the turnout the snow plow clicked on the spring connecting the machine to the throw rod, then snagged on the dimple for throwing the switch manually. This looks like a significant Lionel design error. I plan just to grind down the plow blade some more until it clears obstructions.

These new SD40E and 50E units are a new Lionel model with new tooling.  I grabbed a picture from the web and these plows are certainly mounted quite low.  Check to see how the pilot is screwed to frame.  Investigate there and see if you can raise the entire pilot slightly to give you more plow clearance.  May need to add spacer washers or remove them depending on how this is mounted.       

The clearance adjustment is finished - a coarse carbide cutter on the dremel removed another 1/16" pretty quickly. The tricky part was rigging a vacuum cleaner nozzle to keep filings out of the drive gears. The loco looks fine, though I've probably voided the warranty...   It doesn't look like Lionel did much testing on this new design !

I’ve been working on my own clearance problem. But it was my own created problem. Had to carve a valley in a tender shell. Sat it on my lap and had it with a carbide cutter. I can attest to the filings going everywhere as I got covered by them.

Glad it worked out for you. My wife purchased a Triplex many years ago. I modified and moved a few things such as caboose industries ground throws. The rear steps were the issue. Got all the trackwork good to go to get it to the roundhouse. Then found out. It wouldn’t fit through the door. Looking back if the steps were available to purchase. I would have just narrowed them.

@HiramO posted:

Earlier I reported a situation in which my SD40E was catching the guard rail on Ross switches. I solved this by grinding off about 1/16th inch of the snow plow on the loco. I celebrated success prematurely...   The locomotive seems to have a much more serious clearance problem. The snow plow assembly is cleverly designed and spring loaded to stay with the body in a curve rather than following the coupler. This means the loco in effect has a very big overhang. I have wide curves; the turnouts are 095 or 128. If the loco approaches a switch from the curve, and the switch machine is on the outside, the snow plow grabs the switch machine mounting screws every time. Ironically, the loco has a snow plow only at the short hood end - the loco runs fine long hood forward! I see three solutions:  Move a lot of switch machines (not likely), run this thing only long hood forward, or take off the snow plow (seems to be just two tiny mounting screws). Has anyone had experience with this loco? Any ideas?

I've found that a few of the modern Lionel diesels with the pivoting pilot will whack my manual caboose throws going into my yard.  I can drive the biggest steamers I have in there with no problem, but my ES44AC locomotives don't make it without me holding the pilot from swinging way out and catching the ground throw.