Air cleaner assembly for internal combustion engines

An air cleaner system for small internal combustion engines (20), including a removable or replaceable air cleaner element (72) detachably mounted within an air cleaner cavity (70) which is defined at least in part by the shroud (26) of the engine. The air cleaner element includes engagement structure (82) for releasable engagement with a wall (44) of the air cleaner cavity to permit mounting of the air cleaner element within the cavity, and removal of the air cleaner element from the cavity, without the use of tools. In addition, a cover (60) is provided for releasably engaging the air cleaner cavity to cover the air cleaner element.