No you're not the only one. What happens is, if you don't pull the clutch plates apart the belt is at the bottom of the variator and holds the outer plate off, then when you try to tighten up the splined washer if not located, it will mangle the spline on the end of the crank!! I started it and thought something's not right and re-did it, luckily it wasn't too bad.
WARNING, PULL THE CLUTCH PLATES APART, WHEN CHANGING BELT OR VARIATOR PARTS.....Dohh!