CompareUpdated September 14, 2026
NAM72 vs FM-78: 72 vs 70 inch, 45 vs 30 HP
Two wide, non-hydraulic utility flails. MechMaxx NAM72 sells 72″ of cut at $2,699. Woodmaxx FM-78 sells a 70″ deck at $3,900 with a longer warranty and blade choice. The HP bands overlap differently: NAM72 starts at 45 PTO HP, FM-78 at 30.
By Tom Brennan · Editor
$2,699 · 72″ · 1-year warranty
$3,900 · 70″ · 2-year warranty
Buyer fit
Who should buy NAM72 vs FM-78
Both decks target open-acreage work without hydraulic side shift. Match the tractor HP floor first, then decide whether width-per-dollar or warranty and blade options matter more.
Buy the MechMaxx NAM72 if…
- + Your tractor sits in the 45-85 PTO HP band and can lift a 684 lb machine.
- + You want 72″ of hammer cut for about $2,699 and do not need Y-blades.
- + You accept a 1-year warranty and no hydraulic side shift to keep cost down.
Buy the Woodmaxx FM-78 if…
- + Your tractor is closer to 30-65 PTO HP and you need the lower 30 HP published floor.
- + You want hammer or Y-blade options at order and a 2-year warranty.
- + You prefer published rotor RPM and tip-speed specs plus fixed offset of about 46″ right / 33″ left from PTO center.
Spec sheet
NAM72 vs FM-78 core specs
NAM72 lists at $2,699 for a 72″ cut. FM-78 lists at $3,900 for 70″. The price gap is about $1,201. NAM72 wins width and sticker price; FM-78 wins warranty years and blade flexibility. Machine weights are close: 684 lb versus 710 lb.
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| Spec | NAM72 | FM-78 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting width | 72″ | 70″ | NAM72 |
| PTO HP range | 45-85 | 30-65 | FM-78 |
| Hitch | Category 1 | Category 1 | Tie |
| Machine weight | 684 lb | 710 lb | NAM72 |
| Shipping weight | 783 lb | 900 lb | NAM72 |
| List price | $2,699 | $3,900 | NAM72 |
| Price per inch of cut | $37 | $56 | NAM72 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | FM-78 |
| Side shift | Fixed offset | Fixed offset | Tie |
| Rear remotes required | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Blade options | hammer | hammer, y-blade | FM-78 |
Mechanism
Driveline and cutting system
According to manufacturer-published specs verified 2026-08-05, both decks use a 5″ rotor. MechMaxx lists NAM72 with 28 hammers at about 1.8 lb each (~50.4 lb total hammer mass), four V 17x991 belts, and a shear-bolt T6-LF-39 PTO shaft.
Woodmaxx lists FM-78 with 22 hammers at about 1.85 lb each (~40.7 lb total), or a Y-blade configuration at order. Published FM-78 rotor speed is about 2,160 RPM with 95 mph tip speed, and a 3× BX39 (Gates Truflex) drive. NAM72 does not publish rotor RPM or tip speed in the verified catalog fields used here.
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| Spec | NAM72 | FM-78 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotor diameter | 5″ | 5″ | Tie |
| Rotor RPM | n/a | 2,160 | Tie |
| Blade tip speed | n/a | 95 mph | Tie |
| Hammer setup | 28 × ~1.8 lb | 22 × ~1.85 lb | NAM72 |
| Total hammer mass | ~50.4 lb | ~40.7 lb | NAM72 |
| Belt drive | 4× V 17x991 | 3× BX39 (Gates Truflex) | Tie |
| PTO protection | Shear-bolt (published) | See manufacturer | Tie |
| Cutting height | 0.6″-2″ | 0.75″-3.75″ | Tie |
Blades and warranty
NAM72 is hammer-only: 28 × ~1.8 lb. That gives more total hammer mass (~50.4 lb) than FM-78's hammer setup (~40.7 lb), but Woodmaxx still offers order-time Y-blades for a cleaner grass finish.
Warranty is a clear split. MechMaxx lists 1 year on the NAM72. Woodmaxx lists 2 years on the FM-78. Operators who keep implements for years or expect hard seasonal use usually value the extra coverage on Woodmaxx.
Tractor fit and HP floors
This is the decision most buyers miss. NAM72 is the cheaper, wider deck, but MechMaxx publishes a 45 PTO HP minimum. FM-78 publishes 30 PTO HP. A tractor in the low-30s HP band can sit inside the FM-78 range and still be below the NAM72 floor.
Both are Category 1 with no rear remotes required. NAM72 lists 684 lb machine weight and 783 lb shipping weight. FM-78 lists 710 lb machine weight and 900 lb shipping weight. Confirm three-point lift, front ballast, and storage width before ordering either deck.
FM-78 fixed offset from PTO center is about 46″ right and 33″ left. NAM72 is described as center-mount / fixed offset without hydraulic shift. Neither deck replaces a hydraulic side-shift model for fence lines or orchard rows.
Cost per inch of cut
At $2,699 versus $3,900, NAM72 costs about $1,201 less while cutting 2″ wider. Per inch that is about $37/inch for NAM72 versus $56/inch for FM-78. Per pound of machine weight, about $3.95/lb versus $5.49/lb. NAM72 wins efficiency metrics; FM-78 wins warranty years and blade choice.
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| Spec | NAM72 | FM-78 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| List price | $2,699 | $3,900 | NAM72 |
| Price / inch of cut | $37 | $56 | NAM72 |
| Price / lb machine weight | $3.95 | $5.49 | NAM72 |
| Warranty years | 1 | 2 | FM-78 |
| Total hammer mass | ~50.4 lb | ~40.7 lb | NAM72 |
MechMaxx NAM72 strengths and tradeoffs
Larger utility tractors mowing open acreage where a 72″ hammer-only deck matters more than hydraulic side shift or Y-blade finish options.
Pros
- 72″ cut at a price well below Woodmaxx FM-78
- 28 heavy 1.8 lb hammers and four-belt drive
- 684 lb machine weight is moderate for a 72″ flail
Cons
- Requires a real 45–85 HP tractor band
- No hydraulic side shift despite the offset hitch geometry
- 1-year warranty and hammer-only setup vs Woodmaxx's 2-year/Y-blade options
Woodmaxx FM-78 strengths and tradeoffs
30–65 PTO HP tractors clearing open pastures and fields where width beats offset.
Pros
- Big step up in acres-per-hour vs 55″ machines
- Hammer or Y-blade configuration
- Factory-direct pricing vs dealer-mark brands
Cons
- Needs real utility horsepower and lift capacity
- No side shift for tight orchard rows
Why NAM72 is not a cheaper FM-78 for a 30 HP tractor
NAM72 publishes a 45 PTO HP floor. FM-78 publishes 30. The extra 2″ of cut and the lower sticker do not put NAM72 inside a 30–40 HP compact. If you only have about 30 PTO HP, this pair is not a toss-up. NAM72 is out until the tractor meets the published floor.
Above 45 HP the fork is warranty, Y-blades, and hammer mass, not width theater. NAM72 is still hammer-only with a 1-year warranty. FM-78 still costs about $1,201 more for a 2″ narrower cut. Neither deck in this pair is hydraulic. Fence-line shoppers belong on FM-78 vs FM-78H or FM-78H vs NAM72H.
Owner signal
What owners report about NAM72 vs FM-78
Themes below are editorial summaries from manufacturer-adjacent owner feedback and published positioning (retrieved 2026-08-05). Not a scientific survey.
MechMaxx NAM72
- Wide value deck. Shoppers treat NAM72-class width as a price-led alternative to premium 70″ decks when utility horsepower is available.
- Import vs premium brand perception. Forum comparisons often frame MechMaxx as the budget/import choice against heavier North American brands, with buyers trading warranty story for sticker price.
- Utility-tractor fit. The published 45-85 HP band keeps this away from compact buyers stretching for width.
- No hydraulic side shift. Fixed/center mounting keeps hydraulics simple but limits fence-line and orchard reach versus NAM-H or Woodmaxx H models.
Woodmaxx FM-78
- Cleaner finish than a rotary cutter. Owners commonly say the FM-78 leaves a cleaner, more even result than older brush hogs on field edges and grass.
- Chest-high grass and weeds. Hammer setups get praise for waist- to chest-high grass and mixed field growth when paced carefully.
- Wide-path efficiency. The 70″ cut is valued for fewer passes on open ground versus 55″ machines.
- Build perception. Buyers repeatedly call the deck beefy and well built relative to cheaper import alternatives they cross-shopped.
Final call
NAM72 vs FM-78: which should you buy?
Choose the MechMaxx NAM72 when your tractor meets the 45-85 HP band, open-acreage width matters most, and you want about $2,699 for a 72″ hammer deck. Accept the 1-year warranty and hammer-only setup.
Choose the Woodmaxx FM-78 when you need the 30 HP published floor, Y-blade options, published tip-speed specs, or a 2-year warranty. You pay about $1,201 more for a 2″ narrower cut and denser support positioning.
NAM72 vs FM-78 FAQ
What PTO horsepower do I need for NAM72 vs FM-78?+
MechMaxx publishes 45-85 PTO HP for the NAM72. Woodmaxx publishes 30-65 PTO HP for the FM-78. The value pick still needs the higher minimum: a tractor under 45 PTO HP is outside the NAM72 band even though the FM-78 starts at 30.
How much cheaper is the MechMaxx NAM72 than the Woodmaxx FM-78?+
At list price, NAM72 is $2,699 versus $3,900 for the FM-78, about $1,201 less. Per inch of cut that is about $37/inch versus $56/inch. The FM-78 premium buys a 2-year warranty and hammer or Y-blade ordering options.
Which cuts wider, NAM72 or FM-78?+
NAM72 cuts 72″ versus 70″ on the FM-78, two extra inches per pass. Both are fixed-offset / center-mount decks with no hydraulic side shift.
Does the NAM72 have Y-blade options like the FM-78?+
No. NAM72 is hammer-only: 28 hammers at about 1.8 lb each. Woodmaxx FM-78 is ordered as 22 hammers at about 1.85 lb each or a Y-blade configuration. Choose FM-78 if finish-oriented Y-blades are part of the plan.
Do either model have hydraulic side shift?+
No. NAM72 is center-mount / fixed offset with no hydraulic shift. FM-78 uses a fixed offset from PTO center (about 46″ right / 33″ left). Buyers who need seat-controlled offset should compare NAM72H or FM-78H instead.
MechMaxx NAM72 vs Woodmaxx FM-78: which should I buy?+
Buy the NAM72 if your tractor is in the 45-85 HP band, you want 72″ of hammer cut for about $2,699, and you accept a 1-year warranty. Buy the FM-78 if you need a 30 HP floor, Y-blade options, published tip-speed specs, or a 2-year warranty.