Atlas mudguard stays conundrum

Okay, perhaps I am overthinking this situation but here goes: I have a set of chromed mudguard stays for my Atlas (they are in excellent used condition - good chrome, straight, etc.). The lengths are spot-on but the ends of the stays do not rest flush with "D-shaped" thick mudguard washers (not even "almost flush"). So, do the flat ends of the stays require some "persuasion" or am I missing something? I have combed the manuals and the exploded parts diagrams on Andover Norton's website but just can't tell.

Stays go inside the guard and are slightly bent at the ends to conform to the guard, Guards are a tricky area , replacement parts are rarely correct and bridges are never right. Oversize tires cause problems too.