I would have simply hit it in with a rubber mallet. Did you replace the BB or bearings? Normally external BB are easy nothing to overhaul. You just buy a new BB they are cheap and replace. As long as they were spinning free the the BB is faced correct. In any case I would pull the crank out and regrease and wipe clean. Get the crank in by hand or slight push/hit. Then if the cranks spin free without too much resistance you are good to go. My externals spin like a top no binding I just really like the design and now they are going out.