Any way to open the smoke unit to access the piston? Noticed one of the tanks wasn't producing smoke, opened it up and the smoke generator wasn't doing anything. Looks like the black rubber peice on the piston is twisted a bit, possibly binding it. Doesn't make any noise or anything. Switch it on, everything hooked up. Took the 2 screws out on either side of the piston, but the cover didn't want to come off. Hoping the piston didn't bind and jack the motor up on it.

They can usually be fixed, but a new one is only ten bucks. When you pull the screws on either side of the piston the whole smoke box should come off, just watch the wires that are still attached between the two pieces. You can test the motor with a 9 volt battery. If you still have trouble tonight I'll make you a video.

I'll mess with it some more when I get back home from work tomorrow. I think it will be alright if I can just straighten that rubber peice out.

I've also noticed that sometimes when they sit for a while they'll kinda get stuck, and just a little push on the crank with your finger will get it going again. I know for a while there was a problem with the piston being too tight for the cylinder, and if that's the case you're better off just to replace it.