Woodmaxx · ReviewUpdated 2026-08-05
Woodmaxx FM-78H review
The FM-78H adds hydraulic side shift to Woodmaxx's 70″ flail platform, making it the edge-work choice for tractors that can lift an 804 lb machine.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Width plus hydraulic offset in one implement
- Built for heavier grass and brush workloads
- 2-year parts warranty
Cons
- Premium over FM-78 for the H package
- Requires rear remotes and adequate ballast
01What the FM-78H actually is
The FM-78H shares the 70″ cutting width and 80″ overall width of the FM-78, but adds hydraulic side shift. Woodmaxx publishes 804 lb machine weight, 1000 lb shipping weight, and a 30–65 HP range.
As with the FM-78, the product copy has a hitch conflict. The intro says Category 1 & 2, while the detailed footer says Category 1 Only; this catalog uses Category 1.
02Side shift and remotes
Woodmaxx lists the shifted-left position as 36″ left / 43″ right, and shifted-right as 22.5″ left / 57″ right. That gives the operator meaningful reach around obstacles compared with the fixed-offset FM-78.
The side-shift cylinder needs one rear remote. Woodmaxx also lists gearbox oil and 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings with this model, but tractor-side couplers and hose routing still need to match your machine.
03Power, finish, and blade choice
Owner themes include successful fit on Kubota L3901/L4802-class tractors, favorable fuel-use comments compared with a rotary cutter, and praise for lower horsepower demand when ground speed is managed.
Woodmaxx lists 22 duckfoot/hammer blades at about 1.85 lb each or 44 Y-blades. Owner themes describe Y-blades as capable of a golf-course-style finish in appropriate grass conditions, while hammers are the brushier setup.
04Build and abuse tolerance
Verified specs include a 5″ rotor at about 2160 RPM, 14.8125″ swing diameter, 95 mph tip speed, 3× BX39 Gates belts with automatic tensioner, and a 5.25″ rear roller.
Owner feedback themes include support after hard use and locust-control work. Treat those as durability signals, not permission to run the mower like a forestry mulcher. Inspect blades, bolts, belts, and roller hardware after heavy sessions. The width-matched value H is NAM72H (45 HP floor, 16″ travel), not NAM68H.
What's in the box
- FM-78H flail mower deck (hammer/duckfoot or Y-blade configuration as ordered)
- Category 1 three-point hitch mounting
- Hydraulic side-shift cylinder (requires tractor rear remotes)
- PTO driveline
- Rear gauge roller
- Gearbox oil (included per Woodmaxx)
- 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings
- 3× BX39 Gates belt drive with automatic tensioner
- Tractor with Category 1 three-point hitch and 540 RPM PTO
- Rear hydraulic remote pair for side shift
- Front ballast if your tractor needs it for an ~804 lb deck
- Hydraulic hose adapters beyond included fittings (tractor-dependent)
- Woodmaxx intro copy conflicts with the detailed footer on hitch category; this catalog uses Category 1 Only.
- Confirm hydraulic coupler compatibility before delivery day.
Full specifications
Normalized from manufacturer data (verified 2026-08-05). Always confirm on the current product page before you order.
- Brand
- Woodmaxx
- Model
- FM-78H
- Cutting width
- 70″
- Overall width
- 80″
- PTO horsepower
- 30–65 HP
- Min HP per foot of cut
- 5.14
- Hitch
- Category 1
- Offset
- Hydraulic side shift (no tilt)
- Side-shift detail
- Hydraulic side shift: shifted left 36″L/43″R; shifted right 22.5″L/57″R. Requires rear hydraulic remotes.
- Rear remotes required
- 1
- Machine weight
- 804 lb
- Shipping weight
- 1,000 lb
- Cutting height
- ¾″–3¾″
- Rotor diameter
- 5″
- Rotor RPM
- 2,160 RPM
- Blade swing diameter
- 14.8125″
- Blade tip speed
- 95 mph
- Hammer blades
- 22 × 1.85 lb (40.7 lb total)
- Y-blades
- 44
- Blade options
- hammer / y-blade
- Belts
- 3 × BX39 (Gates Truflex)
- Drive notes
- 3× BX39 Gates belts, automatic belt tensioner, reverse-rotating 5″ rotor, oil-bath gearbox, 5.25″ rear roller
- Price (list)
- $4,620
- Warranty
- 2 years parts
- Specs verified
- 2026-08-05
Tractor compatibility
- Match PTO horsepower to 30–65 HP. Use PTO HP from the tractor manual, not engine HP. Published mins in this catalog are all at least 3.0 HP per foot of cut.
- Machine weight is about 804 lb (shipping ~1,000 lb) — confirm your tractor’s 3-point lift capacity with margin for the PTO shaft and terrain.
- Hitch requirement: Category 1.
- Budget one rear remote for lateral side shift. This deck does not tilt down a bank — slope work is the VAM line.
- Ballast the front end on steep or soft ground, especially with wider decks (70″).
Who should buy the FM-78H, and who should skip it
30–65 HP tractor owners with a rear remote who want wide mowing plus side-shift reach for fence lines, orchards, trees, and brushy property edges.
You need width and adjustable reach
The 70″ cut handles open ground while hydraulic shift helps along fences, orchards, and trees.
Your tractor has a rear remote
One rear remote is required to use the side-shift cylinder as designed.
You can lift an 804 lb mower
The H package adds weight over the FM-78; ballast and lift margin matter.
You do not have rear remotes
The fixed-offset FM-78 is simpler if you do not want to add hydraulics.
You need Category 2 hitch-only fit
The detailed Woodmaxx spec says Category 1 Only despite conflicting intro copy.
A 55″ deck is already enough
The FM-62H is easier to maneuver and lift while still giving hydraulic side shift.
Alternatives to consider
Accessories worth planning for
Rear remote hydraulic kitOptional
Required if your tractor lacks a rear remote pair for the side-shift cylinder.
Hydraulic coupler adaptersOptional
Woodmaxx lists 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings, but tractor-side couplers can vary.
Front ballast / loader ballastOptional
Recommended to evaluate before lifting an ~804 lb side-shift deck.
Replacement hammer/duckfoot or Y-blade kitOptional
Wear parts matching the ordered blade configuration.
Spare BX39 belt setOptional
The FM-78H uses three BX39 Gates belts with automatic tensioning.
Hammers vs Y-blades
Hammer / duckfoot blades
22 hammers · ~1.85 lb each
Best for: Brushy edges, locust control, rough pasture, and mixed growth
Finish: Mulched / utility finish
The hydraulic shift helps place the deck at edges, but blade choice still determines brush vs finish behavior.
Y-blades
44 knives
Best for: Lawns, pasture grass, orchards, and finish-oriented mowing
Finish: Owner themes describe a very clean grass finish when conditions fit
Best when the 70″ width is used primarily for grass rather than woody material.
Woodmaxx treats hammer/duckfoot and Y-blade setups as order-time choices. Match the blade package to your dominant workload.
What owners say about the FM-78H
Themes paraphrased from Green Tractor Talk (May–Oct 2023), TractorByNet (2019), and Woodmaxx product-page reviews (retrieved 2026-08-14). Not a scientific sample.
- Factory belt tension on first use. A GTT owner of the 78H reported a first-use failure from belts set too tight at the factory. Woodmaxx sent parts after some back-and-forth; the owner had already bought bearings and belts. They still said they would buy it again.
- Hydraulic slide and rust on arrival. Another GTT owner (Oct 2023) said the slide rod arrived rusty, the hydraulic slide fell apart within a year, and the metal-to-metal tensioner pivot seized and ate belts. Woodmaxx resolved the issues promptly. That owner still wished they had bought a brush hog instead.
- L3901 and L4802 pairings. Woodmaxx-page reviews describe the 70″ H as workable on Kubota L3901 and L4802 when lift and one remote are sorted. One L3901 owner said it used less HP than a 5-foot rotary and would not go larger.
- Locust and pasture cleanup. A June 2026 Woodmaxx-page review from a 60-acre horse and cattle place said bristly locust stayed down 1 to 2 years after flail passes, versus growing back by the next cut with a rotary.
- Skids, grass piles, and winter ballast. GTT notes include lifting the deck on turns so skids do not rip turf, and dumping built-up grass. On TractorByNet (2019), one owner left the FM-78H on the tractor all winter as FEL counterweight.
Detailed specifications & features
70″ PTO flail mower with hydraulic side shift for tractors in the 30–65 HP range.
Manufacturer copy conflicts on hitch category; the detailed footer says Category 1 Only, so this record uses Category 1.
Requires one rear hydraulic remote. Includes gearbox oil and 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings per Woodmaxx.
Choose 22 hammer/duckfoot blades or 44 Y-blades at order.
Key features
- +Category 1 based on detailed manufacturer footer
- +804 lb machine weight and 1000 lb shipping weight
- +Hydraulic side shift — shifted left 36″L/43″R, shifted right 22.5″L/57″R
- +Requires one rear remote
- +22 hammer/duckfoot blades (~1.85 lb each) or 44 Y-blades
- +5″ rotor at approximately 2160 RPM with ~95 mph tip speed
Manufacturer-published specs
- Cutting width
- 70 in
- Overall width
- 80 in
- Cutting height
- 3/4 – 3-3/4 in
- PTO horsepower
- 30–65 HP
- Hitch type
- Category 1
- Machine weight
- 804 lb
- Shipping weight
- 1000 lb
- Blade count
- 22 hammer/duckfoot or 44 Y-blades
- Hammer weight
- Approximately 1.85 lb each
- Blade tip speed
- 95 mph
- Blade swing diameter
- 14-13/16 in
- Rotor
- 5 in tube at approximately 2160 RPM
- Drive belts
- 3× BX39 Gates Truflex
- Rear roller
- 5.25 in with tapered ends
- Side shift
- Left 36″L/43″R; right 22.5″L/57″R
- Hydraulic fittings
- 1/2 in NPT quick-connect fittings included
- Warranty
- 2-year parts (see Woodmaxx policy)
Specifications sourced from the manufacturer’s product page on August 5, 2026. Specs may change without notice.
FAQ
What tractor size fits the Woodmaxx FM-78H?+
Woodmaxx lists the FM-78H for 30–65 HP tractors. It weighs about 804 lb as a machine and ships at roughly 1000 lb, so check lift capacity, ballast, and rear remote availability.
Is the FM-78H Category 1 or Category 2?+
Woodmaxx copy conflicts: the intro mentions Category 1 & 2, but the detailed footer says Category 1 Only. This catalog uses Category 1.
How much hydraulic side shift does the FM-78H have?+
Woodmaxx lists shifted-left reach as 36″ left / 43″ right and shifted-right reach as 22.5″ left / 57″ right.
Does the FM-78H require rear remotes?+
Yes. The side-shift cylinder needs one rear remote pair. Woodmaxx lists 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings, but confirm your tractor-side couplers.
FM-78H vs FM-78, when is the H worth it?+
Choose the H if fences, trees, orchards, or property edges make seat-controlled side shift valuable. Choose the FM-78 if you mostly mow open ground and want the simpler fixed-offset deck.
Should I order hammer/duckfoot blades or Y-blades?+
Order hammer/duckfoot blades for brushy edges and rough pasture. Order Y-blades if grass finish is the goal; owner themes mention a very clean, golf-course-style finish in suitable grass.
What comes with the FM-78H?+
The mower in the blade configuration ordered, Cat 1 hitch setup, hydraulic side-shift cylinder, PTO driveline, rear roller, gearbox oil, and 1/2″ NPT quick-connect fittings. Confirm the latest Woodmaxx packing list when ordering.
What belts and roller does the FM-78H use?+
Woodmaxx lists three BX39 Gates belts with automatic tensioning and a 5.25″ rear roller.
What warranty does the FM-78H include?+
Woodmaxx publishes a minimum 2-year parts warranty on equipment. Labor is not covered. Their published process is phone diagnosis with repair parts shipped first; photos or video may be required. For the FM-78H, treat that as the brand baseline and confirm current terms on the Woodmaxx returns and warranty page before purchase.