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[fourstar]

This may be old stuff to many of you, but since this is my first touring bike and I haven't seen this mentioned before, I thought I'd lay it out there FWIW...
Every time I take my saddlebags off the fasteners tend to fall out and down into the saddlebag.  If I'm lucky, the washer stays on the fastener and doesn't fall down between the liner and the saddlebag.  I put a #5 o-ring (3/8"x1/4"x1/16") on the out board side of each fastener and that seems to keep them from falling out.  It doesn't have to be a #5, I just used that because I had a supply of them - it's the same o-ring for the primary drain plug on my softail. 

[1abastarsmda]

I assume we all have that same problem.  I had thought about putting a light coat of some sort of adhesive on the back of the washer to help keep it in place, but it's one of those things you forget about until the next time they fall out.  At the same time, I usually empty my bags completely before taking them off, so it's not difficult to find them...until a few days ago when the washer dropped between the liner and the bag.  Anyway, sounds like a good suggestion to try.

[Eagle Soars]

I'll usually just leave my stuff in the saddlebags and if I remember I'll grab the washer and stud and set them on top of everything.  Otherwise, I just expect to dig a little for them.  Never had them fall behind the liner, though.

Glueing the washer might be a good plan.

I would caution you to be careful leaving the studs sticking out the back...you might accidently scratch the paint when taking the bags off or putting back on     that could definitely ruin an otherwise good day.

[tennisman]

Again, another crappy design by HD...look at Leatherlyke's fastener, very easy on and off.  Who came up with this dopey fastener??

This is only matched by the method to hold the driver backrest...this is the worst design ever.  My other bike has a Mustang seat, simple to remove.  HD has its head up its ass on some things.  Now don't get me started on the oil filter location!!

[Dan_Lockwood]

This may be old stuff to many of you, but since this is my first touring bike and I haven't seen this mentioned before, I thought I'd lay it out there FWIW...
Every time I take my saddlebags off the fasteners tend to fall out and down into the saddlebag.  If I'm lucky, the washer stays on the fastener and doesn't fall down between the liner and the saddlebag.  I put a #5 o-ring (3/8"x1/4"x1/16") on the out board side of each fastener and that seems to keep them from falling out.  It doesn't have to be a #5, I just used that because I had a supply of them - it's the same o-ring for the primary drain plug on my softail. 

I did the same thing when I got my '08 SERK home from the dealership.  The first time I took off the bags, the pin and washers just dropped into the full of stuff bags.  I'm not sure what size o-ring I used, but I put mine first on the pin just to keep the washer with the pin and that was a big help, but then one time I tried it on the outside and it seems to be a bit better.  At least you don't drop the pin and washer anymore.

I agree, this is NOT a great design for a company like this to come up with.  They could have made a provision in the pin to have a snap ring installed after the pin was inserted into the rubber grommet. 

For right now it seems you've solved your problem and I'm not complaining anymore about my pins falling out.

A groove and an "E" clip would be all it needs to be a "fix" from the MOCO.