TR2/3/3A TR3 Brake Master cylinder rebuild

I'm stumped. I've got the Girling brake master cylinder out and have removed the retainer ring releasing the push rod which connects to the brake pedal. The stuff within the master cylinder is still in there and I don't see how to get it out. The body is one piece and there's nothing left to undo. I can push the spring loaded plunger in and it pops back out, but only to it's normal resting place about 1/2 inch from the end of the cylinder. How do I get this out?
Thanks

The inertia method: Bang the cylinder flange against a block of wood, like trying to throw the piston out. This usually works.

The compressed air method: Hold your thumb (or something) over one of the ports and blow compressed air into the other port. BEWARE! Parts can fly out of the cylinder at high speed. Point it into a plastic bucket, or something, to catch them. Be especially certain not to point the open end of the cylinder at yourself if you use this method.

There is a round clip in a recessed groove in the front end of the cylinder bore where the piston has to come out. Remove this clip with some long-nose pliers. Then try again. If the piston still won't come out, you can blow it out by feeding compressed air into the rear holes. But cover the rod end with a heavy towel or thick rag where the piston will come out - or it will come out like a bullet with all that compressed air behind it. Others have made fittings, like a grease fitting and they pump grease from a grease gun into the cylinder to the rear of the piston to get the piston out. It's only being held in by the rubber seal on the OD of the piston, but there is little or no wear in the bore of the cylinder where you want the piston to come out, so it's a bit snugger just there.

Don Elliott said:

Others have made fittings, like a grease fitting and they pump grease from a grease gun into the cylinder to the rear of the piston to get the piston out. It's only being held in by the rubber seal on the OD of the piston, but there is little or no wear in the bore of the cylinder where you want the piston to come out, so it's a bit snugger just there.

Click to expand...

That's how I did it..... messy, but effective!

Thanks all. I had half-heartedly tried the compressed air method already but, when nothing happened, I thought perhaps something was still holding it in. I'll try again.
Dick

Been there, done that...

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/topics/388468/Re_Brake_Master_Cylinder

Basically, fill with carb clearner, cap it, heat it. Makes a nice little pop and fireball, so stand clear.