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When I changed oil in my 2004 1600 classic I think I may have put the
oil screen in backwards and then went on a 300 mile ride. On the way
back my clutch stopped working making it real hard to shift. The fluid
was not low. The next day it shifted fine. I thought my clutch was out
so I tore the clutch out and it looked in good shape. I then changed
oil and found a lot of black flakes and chrome looking silver flakes in
the oil. Would putting the oil screen in backwards starve the motor of
oil and wear out the bearings on the crankshaft and rods? How can I
tell without splitting the motor. It seems to run OK but when I let of
the gas while driving down the road it makes a loud howling noise that
goes away if I pull in the clutch. could that be thrust washers on the
crank? This makes me feel sick thinking that I ruined my bike. Any
ideas on weather putting the oil screen in backwards would do this or
is there other passages the oil could take to get around the screen?
The screen has a solid steel cap on the end that put in backwards could
block off the passage way.

I do not understand what part you are talking ablout, but if there is metal shavings that is not a good sign. Usually the first thing to go is the cams. One way to check is to look at the oil level after it sat ver night. Start the bike and look at the level while it is running. If it drops you are circulating oil if not, time for a top end job.

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 classic;
The part I am talking about is , When you change the oil by unscrewing the large drain plug on the bottom side of the motor their is a long screen filter behind the drain plug. If you put that in backwards will it block off the oil from circulating through the motor and wear the bearings out?
Thank you for your rely.....Rod

Well, since there's metal shavings, I'd be concerned. If this wasn't its first inaugural oil change, metal dust and especially shavings in the oil is a bad sign.

Oil must enter the screen and pass through before it gets to the pump. If the end of the screen is closed and that was the end closest to the cap, then it may have stopped or severely limited flow.

On the other hand, you had to have some kind of flow in order for the screen to catch these shavings, so oil was moving.

Check the oil pressure, go from there.