OK, I tried the vise trick. I compress down a quarter inch or so and it feels as if I've hit a hard bottom, but the piston is still protruding too far out of the cylinder. I have applied up to approx 150 lbs of presure on the piston and it will go no further still. It still will rock a very little bit from side to side so it is not jammed in at an angle. Still stumped......anyone???