[Healeys] BN2 balljoint crosstube- tight nuts

[allen c miller jr]

Help!

I have two cross tubes, four balljoints, and seven castle nuts, and all the
necessary rubber blouses to make one usable cross tube assembly. The nuts are
all clean, as are the threads on the ball joints. all are from pre-BJ8 Healeys
with apparently matching threads. The castle nuts thread down 4 turns apiece
+/- half a turn, but won't go further and tend to turn the ball in the joint.
How do you tighten them without breaking the rubber lubrication blouses? It
appears the nuts were threaded from both sides with a 'waist' just below the
castellations.

all suggestions appreciated

thanks

allen miller bn2/m