I agree and appreciate your input!
I did not spend much time with it over the weekend but that pin seemed to be really stuck bad. It has no cotter pins holding it in place, it is wedged in there. There seems to be no bottom access to push or heat this pin.
That is why I was considering welding it in place. If I could get the pin out, it is a no brainer to grind, and reweld.
There is suffcient access to the rod on the bottom so with careful and planned welding, I believe it could be fairly consistant.
My wire elder would do the trick as it will get in there with no problem, as long as I learn to weld standing on my head.
I believe that stick welder will get in there, will just be a little more effort and time to make it right.
I can tack the top and side portions, then raise the cylinder on the opposite end to gain good access to the bottom area to do my fill and finish welding.