there was two of those machines at the local hardware store last winter, one red, one yellow, identical machines with different decals, sitting side by side, the red one was more expensive. both were mtd quality on the outside, no clue whats under the belly pan.

 

It has manual steering I thoroughly looked at the machine today. Unless the Costco feature sheet is inaccurate (very unlikely as power steering is a desirable feature). The only other possibility, again unlikely is the person who assembled it at Costco didn’t put them on and they are in the box. I believe another member who posted to this thread called the company to verify and was told this model does not include power-steering. This is a very solid deal for a new unit as you’d expect from Costco. After looking at the machine today I was impressed by the engine and the beefy looking gearbox. The visual cost cutting I saw outside of the 12 inch auger and impeller which still may perform well enough for many were the small 13 inch tires (though a nice X-Trac tread design) and the lack of power-steering/auto-turn.

 

Cardo111, thanks for confirming! The lack of a way to unlock the wheels for easier turning is a show stopper for me. I don't require the auto-turn feature as in the Ariens models, but manual steering soured me on this model, even with the great 305cc engine.

 

[quotehttps://a.sellpoint.net/a/Jonsered+S...e=JYq5WvgY.pdf

This is the manual for the one I saw at Costco

It clearly shows steering brakes.

I’ll have a hard time not buying one of these tomorrow!

Red
][/quote]

The Jonsered part number for their 24" model with steering triggers is ST2261EP. This is not the model at Coctco.

The Jonsered part number for the Costco model is ST2261E.

If you look at the Jonsered parts diagrams for each unit you will see that the non-Costco model shows on page 7, a part called "Control unit ASM lever pivot" (steering trigger assembly with levers, cables, etc.

The Costco model's parts diagram shows no such part.

 

Hi All --

Shopping for my first snowblower -- so appreciate all the info you all have provided...

The Jonsered/Husky is on my short list and I examined one pretty closely at Costco today. Here's what I came away with:

-- No triggers, no apparent power steering
-- Contrary to the pictures on the web-site, no heated grips -- there was no switch for them on the control panel
-- The Briggs 305cc motor is from their "Snowmover" line (Model 1450) and there is a sticker stating it is rated at 14.50 gross foot pounds of torque -- which seems quite good for the price
-- The upper discharge chute is all metal, but the lower piece -- where it attaches to the machine and is fed from the impeller -- is heavy plastic and fairly narrow in diameter (to increase discharge pressure?)
-- In store, it's $699

I had gathered enough information on it that a conversation with a couple looking for a replacement snowblower bought it on the spot. I was tempted. Like the added power represented by the bigger motor and feel it's pretty good value for the price. Comparing it with the "donor" Husky 224 and a Toro Power Max 824 OE -- both $100 more. I understand there are much more capable snowblowers in higher price ranges -- but these are the ones in my budget that appear to be solid, dependable, have well placed, solid controls (setting them and not having them move until I change them is a big deal) and will handle the roughly 60 inches of snow we get each winter where I live in MN. So, couple of questions:

Any more thoughts on the Husky 208CC motor versus the Toro 252 and the Briggs & Stratton powered Jonsered 305?
Thoughts on the controls? Like the Toro "joystick" -- though I somewhat question its durability -- and like the toothed set points on the Husky/Jonsered models

Thanks again for any additional insights.

 

I bought one of these on Saturday based purely on the generally positive sentiment of this thread. Hope to pull it off the pallet/get it setup this weekend.

If anyone wants to see something specific I can probably get pictures, I won't actually be living in that house until early next week but I'll try to get shots of anything anyone wants.

 

Congrats it looks like a solid machine. Please let us know how you like it.

 

1st time purchasing a snowblower. I purchased this model based on the reviews in this thread. I have run into 1 issue. Costco employees loaded the snowblower into my SUV. They stated there wasn't any fluids in the snowblower and turned the box on its side to make it fit more easily into the back. When I got home I could tell that there was definitely oil already in the snowblower and some had leaked out of the snowblower. What type of issues could this cause? Should i make sure oil did not get into certain parts? Should i spend the time to bring this back to Costco to exchange it for a new one, or will it be fine if I clean the oil spilled and then replace the oil?

 

Clean it up, fill the fluids to the proper levels and it'll probably be ok. I'd consider pulling the spark plug and pulling the engine over a couple of times just in case any oil made it into the cylinder (that'll clear out the excess). Worst case, it'll smoke for a minute or 2 at startup and then be fine.

Can you tell what areas got oily from the spill?

 

Thank you for the response. The machine was leaning so the choke was closest to the ground. It looked like the oil came through the box that holds the choke. That piece is still a little oily but I will continue to clean it.

 

Ah, ok. It probably dripped out of the crankcase breather with terminates right at the air intake. That should be an easy cleanup and minimal to no risk of oil ending up anywhere that might cause problems.

 

Absolutely no problem. As Rislifkin stated, it may smoke a little for a couple of minutes. After the break in, switch to synthetic oil.

 

Thanks again for your help. Should I be filling the oil with 5W-30 to start?

 

5W-30 is a perfectly good starting point.

 

Did they quit selling these already? I don't see them on the website anymore.

 

I took delivery on a Costco Jonsered snow blower a few weeks ago, which I had ordered online in October. The online Costco site is out of stock right now, but the administrators told me that they expect to get additional stock during the month of November. (Someone in my neighborhood decided to get the Jonsered after taking my unit out for a test run.)

I'm pretty happy with my first uses of this blower at my place in the Colorado Rockies. Early start to winter here. Fit and finish on the Jonsered blower I received is very good.

 

Jonsered Snowblowers huh? A little background on Jonsered they were a Swedish chainsaw company that made high quality saws before they were bought out by Husqvarna.

I owned a jonsered 2240 chainsaw i got a good deal on. it was the same saw as a husqvarna 440 with different plastics.

i am guessing the snowblower is pretty much the same as the comparable husqvarna model.

 

I ordered the Costco Jonsered 24" snowblower through Costco online in October and took delivery a few weeks ago at my place in Breckenridge CO. We are off to a fast start with winter this year in Summit County (Colorado) and I have had a chance to use it on clearing a couple of 10" snowfalls and also 20" EOD snow/ice piles left by the town plows.

I'm very happy with this blower for the price that Costco charges. It had absolutely no problem clearing my drive and walks, and I decided to also clear a pedestrian bridge over the creek next to my place which had lots of packed snow and ice under fresh powder snowfall. The engine runs smooth and absolutely no problems with starting, so far.

As others have noted, this Jonsered unit does NOT include heated grips or power steering. I would appreciate the power steering for some of the close turns I have to make at my place----but it's nothing too difficult to manage with generous use of Reverse and some pre-planning for my routes. Fit and finish are very good on this unit, IMO. Setup took about an hour (mostly setting up the discharge chute and chute control cables). Shipping carton on a pallet was delivered to my house in perfect condition. No signs of rough handling in shipment.

Will see how this holds up long term. But IMO we're off to a good start...

 

Can anyone comment on what I'm giving up going with this over the Toro 824 oe or ariens 24 classic?

 

Nothing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I just saw this today at Costco in Maple Grove Minnesota. $699. They didn’t have one put together but the price tag said it has manual steering. I was tempted by the price but I’m leaning towards a blower with power/auto steering. I don’t think the box will fit in my suv so I’d also have to rent a truck anyway.

 

If someone still has the box or goes to look at this in person would you mind measuring the box? I'm now leaning heavily towards this and it would be really convenient to bring it home in the back of my 09 ford escape.

 

I no longer have the box but it barely fit in a 2005 Lexus GX. I would not expect it to fit in an escape, you should rent a truck.

 

Thanks

 

Costco Jonsered one use feedback

All, I bought the Jonsered from Costco on Wednesday and put it to use in northern NJ today for a wet snow of about 6 inches. This replaces my 15 years old blower that quits working. Major difference between this and my old one are:

1. This is 24 inch vs old one 27
2. This is 305CC vs old one 14 HP
3. This has only one speed to reverse vs the old one has two
4. this has no power steering vs the old one does
5. The box on the front is lower and wheels are smaller than the old one

I debated whether to repair the old one vs buying the new one that I know is smaller in capacity, but I am glad I went this way. One huge difference is the Jonsered throws snow twice as far as the old one. I do not know it is due to 305CC is far larger than the 14HP or some other design improvements, but this is just great, all the way into my neighbor's yard clearing a 5 foot tall retaining wall on the side of my driveway.

Biggest Negative to me was the Jonsered has only one super slow speed for reverse, I guess it is for safety, but it should give us choices of at least two speeds if not three. It has the dead man switch already. My biggest concern was the lack of power steering before purchase, but that turns out to be less of an issue in practice.

One more note that it can only fit into my Honda Pilot sideways, not standing up. I read someone made the comment that oil was spilling while it was transported on its side. While it did have the oil in the engine already, as oppose to coming in a bottle, I did not see any spilled into the car and only a little bit on my driveway. Measuring the oil level before starting shows I do not need to add any more.

If you do not mind a couple more back and forth due to the narrower path, I think this is a winner at a great price.

 

Biggest Negative to me was the Jonsered has only one super slow speed for reverse, I guess it is for safety, but it should give us choices of at least two speeds if not three. It has the dead man switch already. My biggest concern was the lack of power steering before purchase, but that turns out to be less of an issue in practice.

Thank you for all of the detailed information and conversation in this thread. I came here specifically to have questions answered about this Jonsered model. This will be my first decent snowblower. Another blower I am looking at does have the the two different reverse speeds. With the mention above of this only having the one reverse sped, is this something that should deter me from purchasing this one vs. the other with two reverse speeds? Thanks in advance.

 

Old blower 14 hp?

 

sorry about that, 9.5 HP. Not sure where I got 14 from....:smile2:

 

When I click on your link I get a message, "Product not Found." Could really use a video on assembly, but nothing on the Costco site, the Jonsored site, You Tube, and Jonsored 800 number was no help.

 

u can return a gas powered machine to costco. my bro returned a 2 yr old gas powered lawnmower with a bent shaft, yup, he hit a stump, they refunded him the original amount cause he kept the receipt, else refund based on lowest ever price afaik.
membership has its privileges.

 

Did you end up purchasing the Jonsered snow blower from Costco? I just purchased one but am having second thoughts>

 

I bought and assembled it - first two-stage for me.
We’ve got a winter storm watch here in Michigan tomorrow so probably will have a chance to use it —

Need to go buy a new gas can; also it says it shipped with oil so the manual may be wrong ...?

And I’m a smart guy, but I can’t interpret the images that explain how to steer left or right. Perhaps the snowblower needs to be running for this ?

 

And I'm a smart guy, but I can't interpret the images that explain how to steer left or right. Perhaps the snowblower needs to be running for this ?

There was some confusion early on but this model doesn't have any sort of power steering you just have to push right or left manually.

Did you end getting to a chance to try it out?