4 spd Installation tricks

Mine seems to be hanging up and won't goin all the way. Wondering if the snout is hiting the clutch disc pilot. Guessing it moved when I pulled the tranny out. I need to get a clutch alignment tool I know but do you guys have any tricks to make it easier to install the 4-spd? Or is it just something you have to just wrestle in there.

Oh and how do you keep the throw out bearing from popping off when stabbing the tranny in?