5th wheel popped out of hitch

Larry, even in your pic, you've got a washer or two in there. Hard to tell how many, and yours are painted, but they are keeping the latch from rubbing the side of the hitch head. I think Reese may use more or less washers, as needed to fine tune position, which might vary due to manufacturing tolerances in the linkage components.

If someone actuates the release lever a bit, and observe the jaws, it will be clear that the lever has to move a long way before the jaws move much. And even then, the pin pulling rearward will slam the jaws shut again.