Everytime I think I couldn't ask a dumber question, I come across something new...

This time I'm trying to install Drake Door Lock ***** on my 67. Sounds simple, right? Just unscrew the old ***** and screw on the new *****. Well, believe it or not I'm having difficulty with this task. Just to be clear, I'm referring to the part that you push and pull to lock and unlock the door.

Has anyone installed these before? It appears as if the new ***** have a different thread size like I'm going to cross thread it... Or maybe I'm supposed to "force" them because they come from the factory unthreaded (and I would create the threads as I'm screwing them on)??? I hear the echoing of my engineering classes "First Rule: Never force anything."

I keep thinking in the back of my mind about the earlier discussion of Drake products not always "fitting" as claimed... Is it possible here as well? Or more likely installer error?

Thanks!