Thanks Angus, good to hear more ideas and tales of success.  I've seen
these which also looked like an option for removal in a tight space.
http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/ujq6t.scnf7/v/vspfiles/photos/ACC-C10-7175-2.jpg

On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 8:02 AM, Angus Gordon <birdworks@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Hi Tom, just catching up on some mail.
>
> I've done this in the past and managed to get the cylinder back on without
> removing the piston (with the engine still installed). I used an extra
> large zip-tie (monster sized) to compress the bottom 2 rings and worked the
> top ring in with my fingers. Slightly cumbersome but still turned out to be
> a lot quicker than removing the piston. Just cut off the zip tie when done.
>
> Angus
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 9:41 PM, Tom Carchrae <tom@carchrae.net> wrote:
>
>> thanks all for the advice and encouragement.
>>
>> in a somewhat cathartic experience, the heads are now off...  and one
>> cylinder.  i thought i would try moving the pistons, and, well, the stuck
>> one slid right past the end of the sleeve, so, well, sod that, what is
>> done
>> is done.  the cylinder was still pretty difficult to remove even when
>> removed, but a bit of rubber hammer therapy and bar and it came off.  it
>> looks like one of the piston rings is broken - perhaps from my bashing.
>>  all said, it is good to have it off.
>>
>> from jim arnott's words, it sounds like i'm luck to have it be a front
>> cylinder.  i was eyeing the hose clamps at the the hardware store and they
>> have some fine large ones.  that is, unless you meant front as in front of
>> engine/rear of van, in which case, argh.  i saw some of these other
>> compressors, but i can't image getting something like this into the
>> wasserbox
>> http://www.wonderbart.com/images/09/april/piston_ring_compressor_03618.jpg
>>
>> now to start cleaning and reassembling.
>>
>> tom
>>
>
>