new door handles dont work

i bought door handles from a junk yard and they wont work.

got a question the gold metal piece that the handle rod connects to which connects to the handle it self should it be loose or tight against the door handle?

Presumably by your description, this would be an older coupe (88-96 vintage) with the vertical door handles .. the actuator rod end is threaded, and the 'pin' is adjustable vertically by this. Hold the lever the 'pin' engages taught against the handle 'striker' and turn the 'pin' on the threaded actuator rod until it's at the same height as the receiving hole in the lever.