Problems with Small TBH

Well, I transferred the small TBH nuc over to the old abandoned hive yesterday evening. It wasn't pretty. Cross-combed across about 1/2 doz or so bars, HOT, comb breaking, tearing, falling off. Another thing - the bars in the nuc were 15" - the TBH is made for 17" bars - but the 15" will just barely fit. They did have a tendency to try and fall to one side. I wound up just picking up most of the brood nest - bars and all and moving them over. I hope I didn't goof up. From now on I'm gonna use 17" bars on everything. I guess I just need to leave these bees alone until next year and just shake them out next spring with fresh bars.