Yes i fully agree, i only had 1 loco with a problem it was the Crab.
I purchased it new and had it for some time, well over a year before i ran it.
The powered tender worked fine but the loco drivers turned very slowly.
It was returned to my showcase for many years.
I decided to sell it along with others to a dealer, i owned up that it had problems but was told
if you can get it to run then i will buy it.
I took it home and later studied the problem.
The chassis was a plastic shell with a tight fitting weight in it.
I prized the metal block out and could see it was bulging.
I tidied the casting up on both sides using a coarse file and made it a loose fit in the plastic case.
Test run and found it to work perfect, i kept it for at least 5 years and no further problems arose.
I still sold it, but by this time it was a sought after model and got twice the original price.
i never had a problem with the 09, 20,26,27,31,33,37,40,42,50,52,55,60,or 73 and i had several of each.
I don`t know if anyone remembers Greenyard Models at i think South Clifton near Newark.
They must of sold thousands of Lima items and had big adds in the Railway Modeller.
I used to spend all my wages then...all £45...wow i hear you.
But i usually came out with 2 locos and some change or other weeks i bought coaches or wagons.
8 Mk 1 coaches cost around £63.
Fair enough the quality was no where near Bachmann standards, but good for the time.
Happy Days