The van is registered as March 1985 so have used the later handle as suggested by all buyers I have found, it also matched the length of the original when I offered it up although the original never gave me this problem.
Is the answer to replace it with the earlier handle? Are these shorter and if my van is a late model is it going to be compatible? Any help much appreciated as at a loss as to what to do right now - have bought a second (later model) handle and found the same problem
just plug the end up with some black mastic and file the corners round so they're not sharp. You never see the mod because it faces the paintwork. Maybe not the correct fix, but as I say, sorted for free and undetectable 