A piston/cylinder type element particularly suited for embodiment in a refuse compactor as the ram thereof comprises adjustable guide means for guiding the piston-like element in sliding movement within the cylinder. The guide means are adjustable to accommodate wear in the mating surfaces thereof. There is also disclosed a discharge cone for a compactor which is releasably secured to the ramhousing structure in a selected one of a plurality of positions evenly to distribute wear on the cone produced by the passage of refuse therethrough and that cone is removable from the ram housing to be replaced by a different structure, depending upon the refuse to be compacted. Additionally, the ram member of a compactor includes novel teeth elements to cut through refuse which might otherwise be wedged between adjacent surfaces of the ram and cylinder and cause jamming.