Lionel O Train set No. 8304 - Smoke and Whilstle problems

I received this train when I was small and am trying to get it going again. I am trying to get it to smoke. I put smoke liquid down the smoke stack but it does not smoke. Also, I know it used to whistle but don’t know how to get it to do it again. Can someone help me? Thank You Brian

Hello Brian & [#welcome] to the forum! Before you do anything. Check all of your connections to the track & make sure it is clean & look at the bottom of the Tender to make sure there are no loose wires or connections as well. Also,there is a Wire from the Tender that connects to a Wire coming out of the Engine Cab that operates the Sound Of Steam Circuit in the Tender. Check out everything here first then let us know what happens & we can take it from there. Take Care. P.S. I’ve got four of these type of engines & they run well & smoke good. Not as much as newer engines do.However,well enough to satisfy me.

Brian, welcome to the forum. Keith, I’m not knowledgable of these engines. Does it have a smoke off/on switch too?

3 or 4 drops of smoke fluid is plenty. Any more might flood the smoke unit and then it will not smoke.

Welcome Brian!

Is the locomotive’s number 8304? If so from what information that I can find it was produced or marketed between 1973 & 1975 and is a 4-4-2 wheel arrangement. According to Greenberg’s guide current market value is between $75 and $105 in excellant or new condition, means it looks like it came out of the box new or very close to new for those prices.

Have not seen one so I don’t know if it has an off/on switch on the locomotive or tender somewhere.

If you flood the smoke unit turn the engine upside down over a paper towel or other cloth to catch the excess fluid and then try again with only a few drops of smoke fluid.

Lee F.

Hello All! Chief- The 8304 does not have a on/off switch. The Smoke Generator works all of the time when track power is on. 8304s did not have a Whistle either although the 8204s made in 1972 only had a Whistle integrated into the Sound of Steam Board. We’ll have to wait & see what Brian reports later on in order to help him out more.Take Care.