I think with Marlins you can be lucky or unlucky.

I have had 4 of them a standard 38, a 24 inch 38 Cowboy a 44 SS and now a standard .38 again, and subject to round overall length I have had very few problems, although I have friends that have constant problems and despite changing lifters sometimes several times, they seem to have endless problems, I have heard the new newer remlins are supposed to be better than the originals, but not seen one yet here.

DB