i just tryed to reuse my stock factory round can air filter ,but i fixed it so i could use over and over, i took it to the band saw cutting off about 1-1.5'' then i took the blue paper out of the old end and refitted the black plastic ring back around the filter,, seems like i can go at least till i need a new element and save 30-50 bucks[yes i know im cheap]this should flow more air into the eng as well,ive allready cut a factory air filter apart that i got from a guy that offroads and it was only dirty 1/3rd of the depth of that filter,,next i might try using a filter sock [foam] and see if i can't just keep washing that out

Show us some Pix's:D

It sounds like what you did is a good way to allow a lot of dirt to get in your engine. I can't tell for sure without seeing pictures, but you may have cut away all the little foam plugs that block every other flute. If you did that you just made a direct path for unfiltered air to get into your engine.