AK-47 receiver cover problems?

So I just bought a "new" Romanian surplus AK-47 (WASR 10 if you wanna picky). So anyway, I field stripped it and first I had a had time getting the receiver cover to come off. Then, when I put it all back together, I couldn't get the dust cover back on. I took it back to the gun shop, and the AK pro twice is able to put it on. Granted, both times he did it, it only took about 4 or 5 seconds, but had to use a LOT of force, and said "AK's like tough love." So I took it home to try myself and again, I got the darn thing off, but couldn't get it back on. So here is my question, do you think I'm being an idiot, or this there maybe a problem with the dust cover? Do you think maybe it's not fitting in just right because the forward tip is bent? Is the forward tip of that dust cover supposed to slide in a millimeter or two and then be pushed down and snapped in the rear of the rifle over the recoil spring on?