Rattletrap,
It seems there is always the book method or the field method for doing things. I have always tightened the nut, with a wrench, VERY tight. This mashes out excess grease and seats everything.
Back the nut off until you can turn it by hand. Tighten it by hand until it stops. If you can insert a cotter pin, do so..if it needs a TOUCH more, use the wrench to sneak up to the hole.
The key is to only go hand tight or a tighter, never back off to line up a hole.
If in doubt, go by the shop manual. The above method has worked for many people for many years on many old AD trucks.
Stuart
