Fill Oil Filter Or Not?

Yes, the reason is so that you get no starvation of oil around the engine while the empty filter is filling with the engine running.
It is surprising how much oil the filter holds.
It is best practice to fill the filter and definitely to wet the rubber seal with oil prior to fitting to help seal it.
I wouldn't let it worry you too much, just worth remembering for next time.

 

Yes as above. It bleeds the system of air

 

My Triumph is the first bike I've had were you can fill the filter given it screws on the underside of the engine. All my previous Kwaks had the oil filter horizontal on the front so no option to fill. Never a problem, just ran the bike for a couple of mins, let it settle and topped up the oil. However don't know if filling the filter on the Triumph is more critical than other makes.

 

Also if filling by amount instead of checking dip stick then the filter filled counts, if you follow.

 

I always fill the filter with fresh oil ( waits for the pedantic so and so to appear ), was the way I was taught to do it.
As said if you put 200 ml into the filter then that's 200 ml less on the total amount.
Again I always fill the bike with oil by measuring it and not by the dip stick till I have put the correct amount in.
Possibly being a bit retentive by using this method

 

Retentive is a good thing once you have learned correctly.
That is what bike servicing and many other industries encourage through standard operator procedures.
Optimise the process and repeat it.

 

Totally agree with the apprentice using his spirit level.
That is the sort of discipline and finesse that is lacking in most industries today.
It takes seconds to use a spirit level to get something 100% correct so why not ?
Nothing worse than seeing things like sockets, light switches, door handles on the bonk!
Your mate ought to be praising his nephew for setting a good example and doing the job correctly.

 

• Yup agree! If I need a Job done I'll ask you for your nephews number not your mates!!