Just wanted to post an update on this project.
I made a new toolpost stud, with a shoulder that sits about .04" higher than the index ring. I made the shoulder about a thousandth of an inch bigger in diameter than the washer, then hand fitted the washer with a small half round file, taking a little at a time off the inside.
It's perfect now. There's no movement of the pointer whatsoever.
Accuracy seems really good too. When I index it to the threading position and check with a fish, it repeats to at least as accurate as the fish is capable of.