The siezed piston attacked......

Well here we go again, its had a week of soaking in diesel and Ive made some short lengths of 2x2 timber, slightly rounded to fit in the cylinder and with a bit of tin plate screwed over the ends to prevent the wood splitting. - place in the wood after draining off the diesel and with the long handled lump hammer - whack! whack! and more whacks until the wood disintegrates! - not a sausage1 - repeat the procedure a few more times getting quite a sweat on - nothing - no sign of movement at all, - bollocks!
Ah well, nothing for it, - my long handled lump hammer has a hexagonal head which nicely fits in the cylinder, - pop it in and whack it with another lump hammer, - bang bang bang! - have a peek in, - the top of the piston is cracking but we have movement-hurrah - keep on whacking until the heads in up to the wooden hammer shaft, - the middle of the piston head has now broken completely off and dropped through, - fortunately have a bit of steel tube just big enough to make contacyt with outer edge of remaining piston, - in it goes and more and more whacking until, eventually, plop, the engine drops the remaining half inch onto the cushion, - time to survey the damage....

Well, the piston is well and truly knackered, - knock out the gudgeon pin/roller bearing, and extract the crankshaft, - that all appears ok. Inspect inside the cylinder, - doesnt seem to have cut any grooves out while on its way down, but there is some marking at the level where the piston was stuck. So, not sure at the moment whether I can re-use the cylinder, - might have to seek advice on that, but at least the bloody thing is out.