I posted on this yesterday, but I don't see my post. I don't know if it's pending or what. So here goes again. The service manual shows oil flow from the pump to the outboard connection of the filter housing. The inboard returns to the oil tank. But, looking at the filter housing,that would force the oil into the center of the filter, out through the filter media, and exit through the holes in the filter base cap. This flow is opposite from the design of the filter, especially regarding the bypass valve. These spin on filters are designed for the flow to enter the holes in the end cap, flow through the filter media toward the center, and exit through the threaded mount. No?

 

Not looking at an oil diagram but, by memory the inboard at filter should be from the pump.

 

Thanks. Mine is a '96 FXSTS. I agree, but the service manual shows it reversed. Looking at the filter housing off the bike, the outboard connection comes from the center of the filter through the threaded mount. The inboard connection, closest to the engine block, connects to a chamber which feeds the holes at the perforated base of the filter. I've always run the feed to the inboard connection. I think the manual is wrong. If it were right, the oil would flow opposite what the filter is designed for. The bypass filter wouldn't work, either. Maybe Harley will give me a new bike for finding this major mistake in their service manual.

 

They may (not) give ya one, lol
Another thought is the housing has some sort crossover internally. if you could, I would validate with air or something....

 

Correct.

Dream on...

You are not the first one to notice this mistake in the FSM...