Foxy wrote:Tim,
"I haven't found anyone to volunteer to hold a drift while I hit it with a sledge hammer "

Have you ever heard of a "Chicken stick"? This is a long handle to grip a punch/drift whilst someone hits the crap out of it!
Eye and ear (nuts) protection is highly recommended! Also to stop hitting yor fingers with a hammer, hold the hammer with both hands!
Foxy

grandpaul wrote:Have you opened the primary? Could be a very rusty primary chain keeping it from turning easier. Similar possibility in the timing chest, but not real likely.

Are you sure it's in neutral?

Soak cylinder/piston in penetrating oil... do NOT hit it with anything, make up a plate that can be bolted onto cylinder barrels with a hole in the centre of cylinder. Weld a nut on to plate so that you can use a suitable bolt to press down on top of piston, Use a peice of wood to protect piston if you want to re use it. If rings are gummed onto piston, boil it in water to release them. I have used this method loads of times without fail. I've also used the hammer method and always resulted in a broken piston!! Good luck

Do you really think you are going to re-use those pistons? Why save them? After all the banging and pressing to get them to move I wouldn't trust them in my nice new rebuild anyway.