Im doing the 3 hole service on my new to me wide glide. 7400 miles, purchased from my SIL who bought it new from Dudley Perkins. Stock except for a thunder header.
I know it has been serviced at least once in the last 13 years. Started up a week ago, sounded fine. Oil was showing on the dipstick. Was parked in a garage for a long time.
The oil filter was welded on but I managed to remove it. Rubber gasket was dry and fell off. I expected drips and the usual oil mess as it came off. Nothing, clean and bone dry like the filter was still new.
Any ideas what's going on?

 

I'll check to make sure the oil pressure light goes out after I refill oil and start it.

 

There appears to be oil in both sides of the filter adapter. If you're concerned, cut the filter can open and see if the filter media is oil soaked. If you're still concerned, pull the plugs out and crank it over until it builds oil pressure before you start it.

 

I'll try that and now dealing with a dead battery issue. Typical for a seldom used bike...it harely cranked..and I had it on a Battery Tender for a week..

 

A battery tender won't raise a bad battery from the dead.

 

I have oil pressure and oil leaked from the new filter when I unscrewed it a bit. All ok on the test ride. Sorry for this premature post, I was used to seeing oil spill all over when removing a filter. Must have drained from sitting a week. Yes. I had to go to batteries plus to buy a new battery.

 

You got an oil pressure gauge on that engine?

 

So, you think it just drained down while it sat for a while, or do you think the filter was put on but never had the motor started to run oil through it?

 

no, just the idiot light
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I think the filter drained out from sitting.

 

I think it could sit for several years, and not be that dry inside the filter.
That filter does not look like it has ever had oil in it.

Once up and running with oil going through the filter, it will never drain out completely.
There will be some evidence of oil inside.