Woodmaxx · ReviewUpdated 2026-08-05
Woodmaxx FM-96H review
The FM-96H is the heavy Cat 2 Woodmaxx side-shift flail for 50–90 HP tractors, with an 85″ cut and verified 96.5″ overall width.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest cut in the Woodmaxx FM line
- Hydraulic side shift for fence lines and pasture edges
- Heavy structural steel and commercial-leaning build
Cons
- Overkill for subcompacts and many mid-size compacts
- Highest price and shipping weight in the lineup
- Needs serious ballast and lift capacity
01What the FM-96H actually is
Woodmaxx lists the FM-96H at 85″ cutting width, 96.5″ overall width, 50–90 HP, Category 2 only, 1351 lb machine weight, and 1432 lb shipping weight. The 96.5″ overall width corrects a manufacturer summary-page typo that omitted the 9.
This is not a compact-tractor stretch model. It belongs behind a tractor with Cat 2 hitch geometry, hydraulic capacity for side shift, and enough ballast for transport on uneven ground.
02Side shift and width
Hydraulic side shift is listed at 39.5″ left / 57″ right when shifted left and 26″ left / 71″ right when shifted right. On a deck this wide, that reach is valuable for fence lines, pasture edges, and working around trees without putting tractor tires exactly where the mower needs to cut.
The tradeoff is size. A 96.5″ overall deck needs room for gates, transport, storage, and turns. If your fields are broken into tight lanes, the FM-78H may be easier to live with.
03Rotor, blades, and driveline
Verified specs include a 5″ rotor at about 2146 RPM, 15″ blade swing diameter, 96 mph tip speed, 3/4″–4″ cutting-height range, and four BX39 belts.
Woodmaxx lists 18 hammers at about 2.5 lb each or 72 Y-blades. Hammers fit pasture mulching and rougher material; Y-blades make more sense when grass finish is the priority.
04Owner themes and fit checks
Owner themes emphasize heavy-duty build, a liked side-shift feature, pasture grass mulching, and helpful support/shipping coordination. Those are useful buying signals, but the specs still define the fit.
Before ordering, verify Cat 2 hitch match, rear remote availability, 540 PTO setup, lift at the hitch pins, ballast, and delivery equipment for a 1432 lb freight item. The Cat 2 hydraulic value foil is KDK72H (72″, heavier individuals, less total hammer mass). NAM72 is a cheaper fixed-width option and still Cat 1.
What's in the box
- FM-96H flail mower deck (hammer or Y-blade configuration as ordered)
- Category 2 three-point hitch mounting
- Hydraulic side-shift cylinder (requires tractor rear remotes)
- PTO driveline
- Rear gauge roller
- 4× BX39 belt drive with automatic tensioner
- Tractor with Category 2 three-point hitch and 540 RPM PTO
- Rear hydraulic remote pair for side shift
- Front ballast or loader weight as required for a ~1351 lb deck
- Freight unloading equipment for a ~1432 lb shipment
- The FM-96H is Category 2 only.
- Verify gearbox oil level, hydraulic fittings, PTO shaft length, and unloading arrangements before first use.
Full specifications
Normalized from manufacturer data (verified 2026-08-05). Always confirm on the current product page before you order.
- Brand
- Woodmaxx
- Model
- FM-96H
- Cutting width
- 85″
- Overall width
- 96.5″
- PTO horsepower
- 50–90 HP
- Min HP per foot of cut
- 7.06
- Hitch
- Category 2
- Offset
- Hydraulic side shift (no tilt)
- Side-shift detail
- Hydraulic side shift: shifted left 39.5″L/57″R; shifted right 26″L/71″R. Requires rear hydraulic remotes.
- Rear remotes required
- 1
- Machine weight
- 1,351 lb
- Shipping weight
- 1,432 lb
- Cutting height
- ¾″–4″
- Rotor diameter
- 5″
- Rotor RPM
- 2,146 RPM
- Blade swing diameter
- 15″
- Blade tip speed
- 96 mph
- Hammer blades
- 18 × 2.5 lb (45.0 lb total)
- Y-blades
- 72
- Blade options
- hammer / y-blade
- Belts
- 4 × BX39 (Gates Truflex)
- Drive notes
- 4× BX39 Gates belts, automatic belt tensioner, reverse-rotating 5″ rotor, oil-bath gearbox, 6.75″ rear roller
- Price (list)
- $5,825
- Warranty
- 2 years parts
- Specs verified
- 2026-08-05
Tractor compatibility
- Match PTO horsepower to 50–90 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 1,351 lb (shipping ~1,432 lb) — confirm your tractor’s 3-point lift capacity with margin for the PTO shaft and terrain.
- Hitch requirement: Category 2.
- 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 (85″).
Who should buy the FM-96H, and who should skip it
Large-acreage operators with Cat 2 tractors, enough rear lift for a 1351 lb implement, and regular pasture or fence-line mowing where an 85″ flail saves passes.
You have a Cat 2 tractor in the 50–90 HP range
The FM-96H is Cat 2 only and too large for compact-tractor compromise fits.
Wide pasture mowing is the priority
An 85″ cut reduces passes on open acreage where turning room is available.
You want hydraulic side shift on a heavy deck
The side-shift reach is useful for pasture edges, fence lines, and mowing around obstacles.
Your tractor is Cat 1 or lift-limited
Use the FM-78H or smaller Woodmaxx models if Cat 2 geometry or 1351 lb machine weight is too much.
You mow tight residential or orchard spaces
The 96.5″ overall width is a handling constraint around gates, rows, and storage.
You do not have a rear remote
Hydraulic side shift requires one rear remote; without it, the H feature cannot do its job.
Alternatives to consider
Accessories worth planning for
Rear remote hydraulic kitOptional
Required if your Cat 2 tractor does not already have a rear remote pair for side shift.
Front ballast / loader ballastOptional
Plan ballast around a ~1351 lb rear implement and the terrain where it will travel.
Replacement hammer or Y-blade kitOptional
Wear parts for the 18-hammer or 72-Y-blade FM-96H configuration.
Spare BX39 belt setOptional
The FM-96H uses four BX39 belts; stocking a full set helps avoid downtime.
Freight unloading equipmentOptional
Arrange forks, a loader, or dock access for the roughly 1432 lb shipping weight.
Hammers vs Y-blades
Hammer blades
18 hammers · ~2.5 lb each
Best for: Pasture mulch, heavy grass, and rough large-acreage maintenance
Finish: Coarse mulched finish
The heavier hammer spec suits the FM-96H's large Cat 2 platform, but it is still an agricultural flail rather than a forestry mulcher.
Y-blades
72 knives
Best for: Large grass areas where finish matters
Finish: Cleaner grass finish than hammers
The high knife count suits broad maintained acreage more than brush-heavy clearing.
Select hammers or Y-blades when ordering. Confirm parts requirements with Woodmaxx before planning a conversion.
What owners say about the FM-96H
Themes paraphrased from Woodmaxx product-page reviews (12 reviews as of 2026-08-14) and TractorByNet shopping comments. Not a scientific sample. SKU-specific independent forum volume is thinner than FM-78H.
- Heavy-duty first impression. Reviewers call the 85″ deck extremely heavy-duty. One November 2024 owner (jdmiller4) was impressed with construction after short use; Jim Edmonds (June 2022) called it a heavy-duty mulching machine for 40 acres.
- Freight dings and setup help. The same November 2024 review credited Woodmaxx staff by name for delivery coordination, shipping touch-up, and start-up questions. Treat that as support signal, not a claim that freight always arrives clean.
- Pasture mulch leftover. A 2021 owner said leftover pasture the cows did not eat was nicely mulched and looked better than prior years.
- Quiet and hydraulic shift. Sid Blackman (Sept 2021) called it quiet, efficient, and heavy, and specifically liked hydraulic side shift.
- Cat 2 size caution. Praise assumes a Category 2 tractor that can lift about 1,351 lb. Compact Cat 1 buyers are outside this SKU.
Detailed specifications & features
85″ PTO flail mower with hydraulic side shift for 50–90 HP tractors.
Category 2 only. Machine weight is 1351 lb and shipping weight is 1432 lb.
Overall width is 96.5″; the manufacturer summary-page 7.5″ value is a typo.
Choose 18 heavy hammers or 72 Y-blades at order.
Key features
- +Category 2 only
- +1351 lb machine weight and 1432 lb shipping weight
- +Hydraulic side shift — shifted left 39.5″L/57″R, shifted right 26″L/71″R
- +Requires one rear remote
- +18 hammers (~2.5 lb each) or 72 Y-blades
- +5″ rotor at approximately 2146 RPM with ~96 mph tip speed
Manufacturer-published specs
- Cutting width
- 85 in
- Overall width
- 96.5 in
- Cutting height
- 3/4 – 4 in
- PTO horsepower
- 50–90 HP
- Hitch type
- Category 2 only
- Machine weight
- 1351 lb
- Shipping weight
- 1432 lb
- Blade count
- 18 hammer or 72 Y-blades
- Hammer weight
- Approximately 2.5 lb each
- Blade tip speed
- 96 mph
- Blade swing diameter
- 15 in
- Rotor
- 5 in tube at approximately 2146 RPM
- Drive belts
- 4× BX39 Gates Truflex
- Rear roller
- 6.75 in with tapered ends
- Side shift
- Left 39.5″L/57″R; right 26″L/71″R
- 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-96H?+
Woodmaxx lists the FM-96H for 50–90 HP tractors with Category 2 hitch only. Machine weight is 1351 lb and shipping weight is 1432 lb.
Is the FM-96H Category 1 compatible?+
No. The verified manufacturer spec says Category 2 only. Do not plan a Cat 1 compact-tractor fit around this mower.
How wide is the FM-96H?+
Cutting width is 85″ and overall width is 96.5″. The 96.5″ overall width corrects a manufacturer summary-page typo that shows 7.5.
How much side shift does the FM-96H have?+
Woodmaxx lists shifted-left reach as 39.5″ left / 57″ right and shifted-right reach as 26″ left / 71″ right.
Does the FM-96H require rear remotes?+
Yes. The hydraulic side-shift cylinder requires one rear remote pair on the tractor.
Should I order hammers or Y-blades on the FM-96H?+
Choose the 18 hammers, about 2.5 lb each, for pasture mulch and rougher large-acreage work. Choose the 72 Y-blades for grass-focused mowing and cleaner finish.
What rotor and belt specs does the FM-96H use?+
Verified specs list a 5″ rotor at about 2146 RPM, 15″ blade swing diameter, about 96 mph tip speed, and four BX39 belts.
FM-96H vs FM-78H, which should I buy?+
Buy the FM-96H only when you have a Cat 2 tractor, enough lift, and open acreage that benefits from an 85″ cut. The FM-78H is easier to maneuver and fits smaller tractors while still offering hydraulic side shift.
What warranty does the FM-96H 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-96H, treat that as the brand baseline and confirm current terms on the Woodmaxx returns and warranty page before purchase.