tricks to reinstall forks ... can't get in yokes

[tvrla]

I know this sounds stupid, but did you loosen the pinch bolts?

And I've always used a broad blade screwdriver as a wedge. It doesn't take much pressure - and if you're careful it doesn't even leave any marks.

I wouldn't file the fork tubes - it may be possible to go through the chrome and you don't need rust starting up there! Besides, I've never had a problem getting fork tubes installed, so that sounds like an unusual solution to me.