My solution was to take the flap handle over to the press(using some formed hardwood blocks) and tweak it slightly - didn't take much to center it in the slot - that took care of the alignment and no resistance or hang-ups. If a person thinks about it - there are a lot of things that have to line up and I think we are lucky the parts fit as well as they do with only a little minor fit and finish.

To make it all very smooth & rattle free, a strip of the 1/2" wide rib lace reinforcing tapes (leftover from the wing covering) stuck to the sides of the slot did the job.