Help!?

I was trying my first rear-drum brake shoe replace today. I got the hub off without a problem, then got the new shoes in just like the old ones were in there. When I went to slip the drum back on however, I found that there wasn't enough clearane to slip the drum back on over the new shoes. I noticed that the adjuster at the bottom was extended quite a bit, so I retracted that to hopefully get some clearance. I retracted it all the way, but even though I did this and I could then get the drum to start sliding back on. it became very tough to push it on the whole way.

It would seem wrong to crank the castle-nut down and push the drum back on by force the rest of the way. The brake pads would be rubbing on the drum permanently. I was looking at the double-piston up top, and it seems like MAYBE the front piston is sticking out and is perhaps stuck part way out. Looking at that bar-device just under the spring up top though, it doesn't seem like the shoes could contract in any more even IF that front piston could go in further.

I'm flumoxed. I left off for the night because I was defeated. Anybody have any tips on this they could throw me?

I've got some photos if you want to look at them... couldn't figure out how to post them, or if I need to be an actual member.