My heart dropped when the outer diameter was just a shade to big to clear the indents on the filter housing. A little gentle persuasion on the outer rim of the filter with a hammer and it was fitting nicely. Just like in the video, there is a height difference between the old and new, so I used an foam tyre dressing applicator as padding, which I traced and cut to fit the central intake.
The new filter fits snuggly in place, just at the right height. My main problem is the broken tab on the lower filter housing doesn't hold the cap in place firmly to help seal the filter to the base. I'm still looking for a replacement, so had to resort to cable ties to hold it down. Not my usual style, but it will work for now.
I then went and cut the back lawn, which I had let grow a little taller than normal to test out the performance of the engine. Nothing beats a 2-stroke in heavier conditions, I just love how they sound when under load and powering through thicker growth. It's also interesting not having a traditional engine governor, the engine speed regulation is purely on the user. Not sure the neighbors appreciate the noise and smoke these engines make, but I'm having a ball! Actually, I'm surprised how well these mowers cut, the finish left behind is superb despite the lack of a catcher or a directional deck design or blades.