Dont feel bad about not being able to get it off, I'm a car mechanic too and bike parts take the cake.. I would take it to a shop, alot of shops should do it for $5-$10,, they have a big vice, an assortment of removal tools, and they'll know for sure if it has a lockring, also alot of shops are gonna have like custom made 4' long pry bars that made for removing **** like this, good luck