Need help with an old Briggs and Stratton

[jfkbengals]

(06-24-2021, 07:08 AM)grampahol Wrote: Bottom line is if it's running really rough a new filter ain't gonna do a whole lot other than let more oxygen to the fuel mixture. New ignition and carb jet will probably go a whole lot further to help matters. The jet is a matter of 4 bolts and ignition probably even fewer..
If it'll run without the filter it'll run with one on it. Filter just keeps most of the crud from reaching the jet..
If all you're looking to do is change the filter you might as well just stuff a rag in there and call it a day..
By the way..Murray is notorious for being the cheapest of the cheap models. Briggs and Stratton makes a bunch of different engine models from top of the line industrial applications down to the cheapest Walmart models and the Murray name is one of the cheapest.
There's basically two companies that make all lawn mowers all branded under different names.   

Then they are the best of the bunch, since it has ran for 20+ years without a hiccup on almost zero maintenance, then started on the first pull after a dozen years untouched on a shelf.