Yamaha 5C leg fitting?

[Sophie19]

Evening all. Just to put you in the picture I am an ex-agricultural engineer (C&G 015 and 030)and in all modesty I consider myself a fair mechanic, with many years of experience of everything from small chainsaws, lawnmowers, tractors and combines, as well as a few Seagull outboards to boot. Although I am now a geography teacher, I still like to 'keep my hand in'.

Well to get to the point, I am servicing my old Yammy and have replaced the water pump impeller and given the lower end a good clean. I am, at this very moment, putting the lower leg back onto the main body and it has decided to stick, with about 2cm still to go. I do not want to get my club hammer out just yet, I have made sure the splines at the top of the drive shaft are engaged and so on but it will not budge with hand pressure.

Any ideas, advice or suggestions most welcome, I am hoping to get this finished before SWMBO gets in around 12am this eve. Yes it is on the kitchen table!

Cheers.