My experience has not shown any issues with signal, etc. My sole issue with my LC+ Mikado (now gone, traded as a parts engine) was the side to side play in the drive axles was enough to push the screws holding the rods onto the drive wheels into the rods moving back and forth out of the cylinders. I had 3 of them and each one had the same issues on curves. Design issue is what it appeared to be if all 3 had the same problem. Lionel of course said there was nothing wrong with it and I was sick of dealing with them and the engine so I lost big time on it and traded it for an MTH engine I then sold for $100. Nice looking and sounding engine. Ran nice on straight track but otherwise, no good. The LC+ NW2 switcher is a neat little thing. I'm looking forward to getting a better look at them when released.
Hello SJC...........
It does sound like a design problem, can you take a picture of that ? I had a Union Pacific starter set Berkshire and this engine had a lot side to side axle slop as much as 1/8" play and the siderods holes where the bolts go into were so big the siderod bolts almost went through the holes. The drivers were pressed on crooked thus wobbling and the thick rubber tires made the wobbling worse. I was GLAD to get rid
of it. The set # 6-30091, I never bought another starter set since 2009. Those siderods maybe the same part used in the LC Mikado.
Tiffany