OK so let's say it is 80 degrees out and you 103 softail has been sitting all night and the engine is at ambient temperature (cold).
You start the bike and let it idle.
If you let it idle 20 to 25 minutes from cold start up, will that get the oil warm enough to get it to flow nicely for an oil change?
Also will letting the bike idle for this length of time do any damage to the heads ,cylinders, pistons or valves ?
Remember you are beginning this warm up procedure with a cold (ambient temperature) engine not a already warm or hot engine.
I know the manual said not to let the engine idle excessively, but i take this to mean when the engine is already warm they don't want you to set and idle for any extended period of time.
BTW the temp management system isn't enabled on this bike.
Thanks

 

All this it just an opinion but at 80, I would let it idle 1 minute or so and another minute with clutch in so it does not clack so hard going in first and then I would take a few circles around the block to change the oil. Remember, all you are doing is draining the oil bags, not the engine. Most at 80 degrees is coming out anyway. I do mine off the jack and into a 5 qt oil container with side cut out, so it's low and I stand the bike upright for few minutes before rolling it back and screwing plug back in. I warm it up a few minutes in winter (above freezing) and then keep it under 35 for a couple miles before opening it up to 55-60 just to warm it up. 15-20 minutes of that at 40 degrees will only get mine to about 160 on temperature dip stick. I would never idle an air cooled Harley 20-25 minutes.