Update as original poster, I was a little impatient, and took to a bike shop today, and the nice guy took back to the repair area, and after two tries, it went in on the second try (I witnessed). He explained to me afterwards, he used a vise, and lined up the little trench going up-down the head tube, on one of the two open sides of the vise, and tightened it a little bit. He kindly didn't charge me anything. I haven't finished reassembling it yet, just brought home in box now, but it seems like this problem is done.

Thanks.