Uni. Joint Problem 2

Is there a special way to fit the universal joint into the yoke on the diff. section. I have been under the car for hours trying to get the shoulders to bed into the yoke, they go about half way in, I can get 1 strap on but the other side sticks out too much to get the other one on.
Also is there any point in fitting the retaining clips on the strapped section of the rollers?
cheers,
Monaro.