Had a guy tell me he always pulls his oil return line and runs a quart or so out after an oil change to purge any of the old oil still in the case. Replaces the line and tops back off after. Can't say I've ever done this, but I've only owned an HD for the last five or six years. Anybody care to comment?

 

They make kits for that, but I don't bother with it.

 

I think running the engine completely out of oil even if for a minute will do more damage than the 16 oz of dirty oil still in the engine will. Plus, I don't really give a sh*t since that old oil won't hurt a thing.

 

I don't think he'll run dry by only pulling the return line. That's probably only an option for Sportsters and Softails.

I don't think it's worth the effort to bother, unless you know there's something in your crankcase that shouldn't be.

 

I've done it. Cleans out the sump, no problems.

 

Overkill.

 

Once you've changed the oil, it looks pretty clean to me. I don't worry about the last bit of old stuff. You'll never get rid of every last bit anyway.

 

Simpler to just run the engine a bit before the change.
If an air pocket causes the pump not to work (like a new engine often does if you don't put some oil in the pump first) it would be a bad day.
If you try draining the oil from the lines, keep a good eye on the oil light / pressure gauge.

 

Ditto imo.

 

I change my oil often enough that the old oil left over is still pretty clean, I know I don't have to change it that often but for the cost I like to plus I just can't seem to stop wrenching on my bike.