Take it apart.....it is not that big a deal
The shaft, other than the dinky fragile plastic pieces we are complaining about is basically 2 pieces.. the top portion is a 3/4" round, spline at the top and machined at the bottom to a DD.
The bottom portion starts out mating to the top portion (3/4 DD solid) as a hollow 1" DD .......a few inches from the top it slims down to about 1" round with the final 3/4" solid section (with the rag joint pin hole) welded into it.
Easy peasy to take the 2-piece apart and remove 2"off the 3/4" top portion.....if you still want it to collapse the same distance as designed.
