Why would you skimp on something as important as an air filter? Bad idea and it could cost you a mower.

I've got a much better idea for a truly inexpensive air filter. If you have one female in the house you will have an abundance of used panyhose. Just stretch it over the carb throat and you can set back and dream of all the money you are saving.

BTW I just paid the princely sum of $8.00 for the factory paper air filter for my engine. It is perfectly shaped to fit the housing.

do it. when the air being sucked in around it brings enough dirt into the engine, you can buy a new machien that will come with a proper filter.

Just reroute your exhaust pipe to blow all the dust away from and off your air filter.

Of course, you will want to use clean gas so make sure you replace your gas filter before you do that.

Man what a bunch of diehard smarty's here. How could using the same material be skimping? And having it extend beyond the filter holding box. Paying $8 for a tiny 4-5" paper filter is too much, considering a giant paper home AC filter is a fraction of the cost, and made from the same material. My mower isn't worth $50 anyway. The filters are way overpriced on purpose and is just a way of raping you for more money. Just like $1 USB cables are jacked way up to $20-$30 when Best Buy, etc tries to sell you them along with your new printer.

Guess I picked a bad place to ask. I've read online of people making their filters for other applications (automobiles, etc), but I guess no one here has heard of such a thing.

We're not saying we haven't heard of it, we are just saying it is an awful idea and could cost you a mower (we might have just said it a little more sarcastically).

I HAVE heard of folks buying a 20 X 24 air filter for there furnace / heat pump and cutting it up and using it as cabin air filter in their cars. Of course there is no engine in between the two in this case AND those cabin filters can cost $30 a pop and sometimes need replacement every 6 months. Sometimes creativity can pay off...sometomes it can cost a bundle I guess...

Reading the entire thread, my first reaction was that some folks were a little harsh with their sarcasm to "Brian-1".

However, there have been problems in the past with people "trolling" on the forum, more interested in stirring things up than having a constructive discussion.

Also, "Brian-1" is also guilty of not doing at least some minimal up-front homework. A few mouse clicks on Google shows the Briggs 491588 sells for around $4 all over the web, and as little as $2.99 from several sellers. Google 491588 or 399959 (Briggs) or 102549 (Stens aftermarket).

For $3 why would you fool around trying to re-engineer something?

"Man what a bunch of diehard smarty's here. How could using the same material be skimping? And having it extend beyond the filter holding box. Paying $8 for a tiny 4-5" paper filter is too much, considering a giant paper home AC filter is a fraction of the cost, and made from the same material. My mower isn't worth $50 anyway. The filters are way overpriced on purpose and is just a way of raping you for more money. Just like $1 USB cables are jacked way up to $20-$30 when Best Buy, etc tries to sell you them along with your new printer.
Guess I picked a bad place to ask. I've read online of people making their filters for other applications (automobiles, etc), but I guess no one here has heard of such a thing."

When I look at the $8.00 OEM Briggs air filter I just purchased I'm struck by the following:
1. It uses a flexible plastic surround that secures the media and seals the air cleaner housing perfectly. I have no idea how you propose to create that part of the air filter assembly. It is vitally important that air go through and not around your home-brew air filter.
2. The filter media itself is deeply fluted and provides a large filtration area. Most home AC filters I've seen are not nearly as deeply fluted and would not be nearly as effective.

If you want to jury-rig some home-made filter by cutting up an air conditioning air filter then I say go ahead. Most of use have lawn mowers that we paid well in excess of $50.00 for and intend to keep them running properly for a couple of decades or longer. Most of us have better things to do than spend the time creeating a homemade air filter when a reasonably priced well designed replacement is available.

Brian-1, don't be discouraged, you're filter ideas show you are thinking and that is a good thing. Like anywhere else there is a entrenched establishment here that is bankrupt and inflexible to new ideas. I am not familiar with the air filter shape or size used on your machine, but give it a try. Also could you use filter foam in place of the paper, it's washable and can be reused.

Mike

ggoyeneche, please show me where I can purchase this filter for $2.99, $3, or even $4. I don't know if you're exempt from shipping somehow, but the rest of us has to pay it.

Thanks, Mike, for the encouragement.

Gee, I apologize. I forgot to figure the $3 or $4 for shipping. No, I'm not exempt and I really screwed up.

BTW, you said you are having trouble finding these for $3 to $4. I guess you're not familiar with Google. The URL is
"http://www.google.com/"; Try to cut and paste.

Would you also like me to see if I can get someone to install the filter for you (for free, or course). Maybe you'd also like someone to start the mower and mow for you (for free, of course).

What a Bozo.

Thanks mr. nice guy from NJ.

So with shipping, you're at $8 or more then, right?
And I doubt shipping is only $3 or $4 anyway.

Of course I know what google is but I wanted you to point out this place you're talking about, since I don't see them when using google on my end.

Nice try. I think I'm not the Bozo here.

Lets put this in perspective over 2 decades.

OEM Briggs filters cost $8.00 a piece, or $160.00 for a two decade supply.

A good deeply pleated AC filter will cost $15.00. We will need four of them to get 20 usable mower filters for 2 decades, so the media cost is $60.00

A filter frame will have to be built that does the following: 1. Clamps the filter media with no leaks. 2. Provides an airtight seal in the engine filter box. 3. Can be opened and closed for media replacement.
Material cost of frame $5.00
Time to buy, design and build: 5 hours times $40.00 is $200.00
Total $205

By my math the cost difference is against build your own.

$160 - 60 - 205 = $105

You could of course save some theoretical money if you figure your time is worthless.

heya Brian likeminded rocket scientist here-did you check out oldster mowers? they had oil bath filters..change oil alls good again and how abouts oiled foam cleaners reusable just rinse and re oil-just like hoi performance units on my truck..

Wow. Horrible community. I have to make one for a John Deere 1400 portable generator I rescued from the scrap pile. No help here, but: https://www.instructables.com/Lawn-Mower-air-filter-DIY-Briggs-and-Stratton-recy/

Wish you all well managing our compounding inflation.