Rusty Traque posted:Bob Bubeck posted:Roundhouse Bill posted:The 81 engines are prone to E unit failure and 2 of the 3 of them had to be redone. They look like Gilbert's but are not. The E Unit was built so it used separate coils of wires in the field to change direction. No current E Unit can perform this action and Lionel hasn't had originals for years. If you go to Port Lines Hobbies website and look at his repair clinics you will find one I did for the S Gaugian and him on this repair.
Many, many moons ago (1993) I had the reversing unit circuit board fail in my L-AF B&O PA set (purchased brand new 12 years after it was built here in the USA).
Bob
WOT??? According to the guys on the 3-rail side, made in the USA trains are infallible...
Rusty
Well, hardly infallible. 
A mixed bag to be sure. It took Lionel over 33 years to put a knuckle coupler on the rolling stock that functions properly. However, my sample of the 6-48009 GP-7 (that's the 1991 redo of the Gilbert 371 in demonstrator colors) is nicely made and (surprise!) has a horizontal can motor drive that is as smooth as silk. You never know.
But, it was gratifying to have the trains made here in Michigan and have an abundant and truly extensive parts supply stored at the factory to affect repairs when needed. One had a strong connection with the trains, the people, Dick Kughn, and the company. The factory and Visitor Center tours were great fun. Not Flyer, but my five US-made Century Club 1 O gauge TMCC/RS engines have been bullet proof over a time span of 15 to 20 years. The last of CC 1 engines was a reissue of the 773, an example of which I own and got to see being made. I talked to the folks right on the factory floor while they were building them, including a conversation with a very nice woman winding the armatures, one of which she handed to me for inspection. Great memories!
Bob
