CompareUpdated August 14, 2026
Woodmaxx FM-62 vs FM-62H: is hydraulic side shift worth it?
Same 55″ cut, same 20-45 PTO HP band, same hammer or Y-blade choice. The only real decision is whether hydraulic offset earns about $600 and 75 lb of machine weight on your property.
By Tom Brennan · Editor
$3,630 · 55″ · fixed offset · 0 remotes
$4,230 · 55″ · hydraulic side shift · 1 remote
Buyer fit
Who should buy the FM-62 vs FM-62H
These are the same mid-size Woodmaxx deck with one package difference: fixed offset versus hydraulic side shift. Match the hitch to how you actually mow, not to the longer model name.
Buy the FM-62 if…
- + Most of your work is open pasture, hayfield, or clear rows where the tractor can stay centered.
- + You have no rear remote, or you do not want hydraulics as a dependency for every mow.
- + You want the 55″ Woodmaxx cut at $3,630 with 641 lb machine weight instead of paying for travel you will not use.
Buy the FM-62H if…
- + Fence lines, orchard rows, and pond edges on level ground are a regular share of the job. H does not tilt — banks are VAM65 vs NAM68H.
- + Your tractor already has at least one rear hydraulic remote (1 required on the H).
- + On-the-fly offset beats backing and repositioning on every edge pass, and about $600 is acceptable for that time save.
Spec sheet
Woodmaxx FM-62 vs FM-62H specs
Specs verified against manufacturer listings as of 2026-08-05. Cut width, HP band, warranty, and blade options tie. Price, weight, remotes, and side-shift type are the rows that decide the buy.
Swipe sideways to see all columns
| Spec | FM-62 | FM-62H | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting width | 55″ | 55″ | Tie |
| PTO HP range | 20-45 | 20-45 | Tie |
| Hitch | Category 1 | Category 1 | Tie |
| Machine weight | 641 lb | 716 lb | FM-62 |
| Shipping weight | 800 lb | 860 lb | FM-62 |
| List price | $3,630 | $4,230 | FM-62 |
| Price per inch of cut | $66 | $77 | FM-62 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | Tie |
| Side shift | Fixed offset | Hydraulic (no tilt) | FM-62H |
| Rear remotes required | 0 | 1 | Tie |
| Blade options | hammer, y-blade | hammer, y-blade | Tie |
Differentiator
What the FM-62H adds: hydraulic side shift
The driveline is largely identical. Both publish a 5″ reverse-rotating rotor at about 2,160 RPM, 95 mph tip speed,18 hammers at about 1.85 lb each (~33.3 lb total), or 36 Y-blades at order, 3× BX39 (Gates Truflex), and a 0.75″-3.75″ cutting-height band. You are not buying a different cutter when you pick the H. You are buying offset control.
FM-62 fixed offset. Fixed offset from PTO center: extends 36″ right / 29″ left. Not hydraulic. That geometry is set by the mount. Fine for open work. Slow when you need the deck under a fence or past a tree line without moving the tractor over.
FM-62H hydraulic travel. Shifted left 36″L/29″R; shifted right 22.5″L/43″R. Requires rear hydraulic remotes; hose ends 1/2-14 NPTF. Shift from the seat while the PTO runs. That is the whole product pitch for the H: fewer repositioning passes on edges you cannot drive over.
Remotes are not optional on the H. The record lists 1 rear remote required, and Woodmaxx does not supply remotes with the mower. If your compact has zero rear remotes today, budget the tractor work before the deck premium, or stay on the FM-62.
Is the FM-62H $600 premium worth it?
At $4,230 versus $3,630, the FM-62H costs about $600 more. Per inch of cut that is about $77/inch versus $66/inch. Machine weight rises from 641 lb to 716 lb (75 lb). Shipping weight rises from 800 lb to 860 lb (60 lb). Confirm three-point lift and ballast on the lighter end of the 20-45 HP band before you assume either deck fits.
Swipe sideways to see all columns
| Spec | FM-62 | FM-62H | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| List price | $3,630 | $4,230 | FM-62 |
| Price / inch of cut | $66 | $77 | FM-62 |
| Machine weight | 641 lb | 716 lb | FM-62 |
| Rear remotes | 0 | 1 | FM-62 |
| Side shift | Fixed offset | Hydraulic | FM-62H |
The premium pays for itself when offset passes are frequent enough that tractor repositioning costs real time every mow. Fence lines you hit weekly, orchard alleys, pond banks, and tree-line edges are the usual cases. If those jobs are rare, the FM-62 keeps the same 55″ cut, same blade options, and same 2-year warranty without the remote requirement or the extra mass on the hitch.
Woodmaxx FM-62 strengths and tradeoffs
Compact tractor owners who want more width than the FM-54 without paying for hydraulics.
Pros
- Sweet-spot width for many compact tractors
- Heavy Q235 steel deck and NSK bearings
- Slip clutch PTO shaft included
Cons
- Fixed offset from PTO. Fence-line and orchard reach are limited; this deck does not tilt
- Heavier than budget imports in the same width class
Woodmaxx FM-62H strengths and tradeoffs
Compact-tractor owners who need offset reach, have at least one rear remote, and want hammer or Y-blade choice with a 2-year parts warranty.
Pros
- Hydraulic side shift for fence lines without repositioning the tractor
- Hammer (18×1.85 lb) or Y-blade (36) choice at order, not interchangeable later
- NSK bearings, Gates belts, over-running clutch gearbox, 2-year parts warranty
Cons
- ~$600 premium over the non-H FM-62
- Requires rear hydraulic remotes Woodmaxx will not supply
- Cat 1 only (not Cat 2); shipping weight ~860 lb, confirm lift capacity
Is the FM-62H worth it if you plumb it to loader controls?
TractorByNet user tommott77 ran an FM-62H on a JD 3025 with about 20 PTO HP and plumbed the slider to loader hydraulics. Directions ran reversed (up/down became left/right). The H still earned its keep around trees. Limited hours: a dozen of lawn work plus shredded 2–3″ downed branches.
If you have no rear remote and will not add one, buy the FM-62. Do not order the H hoping loader valves are a clean substitute without checking plumbing. The H premium is about $600 and roughly 75 lb. Open fields rarely earn it back.
Owner signal
What owners report about FM-62 vs FM-62H
Woodmaxx FM-62
Themes paraphrased from Woodmaxx-published owner reviews and public compact-tractor posts about the FM-62 (retrieved 2026-08-07). Not a scientific sample.
- Cut quality vs rotary cutters. Owners often prefer the FM-62 mulch and finish over a brush hog on grass and mixed growth when paced correctly.
- Lower-HP compact use. Reports of successful use around the mid-20s HP appear often, with notes that engaging PTO at too-low idle can stall lighter tractors.
- Rear gate tradeoff. Owners discuss closing the rear panel for finer mulch versus opening it when heavy cutting packs material under the deck.
- Hammer wear and fasteners. Hammer wear and loosening hardware after hard brush work are common maintenance themes.
Woodmaxx FM-62H
Themes paraphrased from TractorByNet (tommott77, May 2019), Woodmaxx-published owner reviews, and Kubota-forum reports on the FM-62H (retrieved 2026-08-14). Not a scientific sample.
- Hydraulic side shift worth it. Fence lines, trees, and ditch edges are the recurring reason owners say the H premium pays off.
- Tall grass capability. Owners report easy handling of tall grass when they keep travel speed matched to density.
- Clipping buildup under the deck. Some owners note clippings bunching under the deck in heavy conditions, which means more cleaning stops.
- Blade choice matches the job. Hammer buyers praise saplings and rough growth; Y-blade buyers highlight cleaner yard-edge finish.
Final call
FM-62 vs FM-62H: which should you buy?
Choose the Woodmaxx FM-62 when open fields dominate, you want $3,630 for a 55″ Cat 1 flail, and you do not need (or do not have) a rear remote. You keep the same rotor, blade options, and 2-year warranty with 641 lb on the hitch.
Choose the Woodmaxx FM-62H when fence lines and other edge work are frequent, your tractor has remotes, and about $600 plus 75 lb is a fair trade for hydraulic travel. Same cut width. Different hitch behavior.
Woodmaxx FM-62 vs FM-62H FAQ
Is the Woodmaxx FM-62H worth the extra money over the FM-62?+
Only if you need on-the-fly offset. The FM-62H lists at $4,230 versus $3,630 for the FM-62, about $600 more, and adds roughly 75 lb of machine weight. That premium buys hydraulic side shift and a rear-remote requirement. Open fields rarely earn it back.
How much does hydraulic side shift add on the Woodmaxx FM-62?+
About $600 at list price, about 75 lb of machine weight (641 lb to 716 lb), and about 60 lb of shipping weight (800 lb to 860 lb). You also need at least one rear hydraulic remote. Woodmaxx does not supply remotes.
Do the FM-62 and FM-62H share the same cutting width and horsepower range?+
Yes. Both publish a 55″ cut and a 20-45 PTO HP band. Hammer or Y-blade options, 2-year warranty, and the published 5″ rotor at about 2,160 RPM are the same. The H suffix is the side-shift package, not a wider or heavier-duty cutter.
What rear remotes does the Woodmaxx FM-62H need?+
The FM-62H lists 1 rear remote required. The FM-62 lists 0. Hose ends on the H are called out as 1/2-14 NPTF in the published side-shift note. Confirm your tractor has a working rear remote before ordering the H.
What is the side shift geometry on FM-62 vs FM-62H?+
FM-62: Fixed offset from PTO center: extends 36″ right / 29″ left. Not hydraulic. FM-62H: Shifted left 36″L/29″R; shifted right 22.5″L/43″R. Requires rear hydraulic remotes; hose ends 1/2-14 NPTF.
Woodmaxx FM-62 vs FM-62H: which should I buy?+
Buy the FM-62 if you mow open fields or pasture and do not have (or want to depend on) a rear remote. Buy the FM-62H if fence lines, orchard rows, or pond edges are a regular part of the job and you already have remotes. Same 55″ cut either way.