I had a really good experience with this engine...worked right out of the box. But all the adverse posts about this and other recent engines had me really afraid to order any others...thinking I had just been lucky.
However I took a chance and ordered the ATSF 3759 and it too is just perfect.
Your experience is likely typical. The reality is that most people get their engines and they work just fine. As has been commented on here many times, some people confuse trouble reports that some people like to post (like the evening news) with the real picture.
People rarely post a "I got my engine and it's been problem-free" comment, only the bad stuff. So some people get the wrong impression of the truth. One person out of a hundred squawks, and some people think it's the majority.
I pay little attention to "trouble reports" people post when I decide on an engine. And I've have never had enough problems to be concerned about. I've sent one engine back to Lionel for repair in the last three years. Big deal.
