Hello, I would like to know, from those who have or have repaired this engine if it's odyssey "lurch" is bad. A video speaks a thousand words. Thanks,
Nickstrains.
P.S. What would it take to make it chuff 4 times per rev?
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The "lurch" is only upon power-on, and it doesn't happen to every Odyssey I locomotive. To generate 4-chuffs, the classic way is magnets on a driver or trailing truck wheel and a reed switch. I'm experimenting with an optical method, but I'm not ready to unleash it on the general public yet.
John, please keep us posted on the optical system. I am not a big fan of magnets or reed switches.
As I do upgrades, I'm using the new optical encoder. I'm working out the bugs and learning what I can and can't do. Once I feel more confident that I can describe how to use it successfully, I'll post some info. 
Nick,
Here's my 28084 in action. Has never had any sign of an Odyssey lurch at all.
I have the Lionel Dreyfuss - no lurch.
I have a couple of Lionel un-streamlined J3a's - one lurches, one does not.
I have 2 Lionel USRA 2-6-6-2's - one lurches, one does not.
Go figure; I guess electronics batches make the difference. I don't like it, of course, but the start-up lurch is just that - a start-up issue, so I ignore it.
(Which, of course, does not make it "ignorable" to you.)
