The filter you tried is for a 58 Cu In Simca engine!!!!(as Denny says). Your engine is 4X larger. So I'm not up on AD filters but: Is this a dry filter with just mesh? Did you remove the mesh and put in the paper? Did you leave the mesh in and install the paper? Will your old canister only take this 7" x 3" paper filter? Did you clean the mesh out real, real good? The air filters I have seen that have spark arrestors in them also take a filter. Is yours a spark arrestor/filter mesh all in one or what? Is the mesh not a spark arrestor as some have said? It seems like everyone already knows all this but I would like to know also. Having trouble seeing what you have and what you have tried, so I can give an educated guess as to what is wrong or understand the good suggestions. Denny says just use the mesh, isn't that what you started with and does not work when lid is put on? If it was me I would start with an EMPTY old canister with the lid on to be sure of the mechanical then add the biggest quality paper that fits and see. I realize you said you fitted it all up without cover and it ran good until cover installed. Take out everything inside canister first for a baseline. This will prove that it's the air flow not the canister shape, size or a mechanical interference. You don't need a spark arrestor. They are for boats, forestry equipment and various state requirements for OHV's.
