NSK is a leading bearing and motion control manufacturing company founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1916. Today NSK has several plants around the world including England, Germany, USA and Switzerland and by far one the best quality bearings available on the market today. Although these bearings are very costly, we feel that in an application with high load and dynamic forces such as a flail mower that such high quality bearings are required. These bearings are noticeably smoother, quieter, and cooler running than any competitor and far superior to any no-name brand. Some inferior bearings contain plastic interior ball cages that are susceptible to breakage from shock loads. Poor material and tolerances generate excessive heat that translates into premature bearing failure and even belt wear as the heat travel to the pulleys and the belts. All bearings are not created equal, and this is a feature that should not be overlooked when shopping for a flail mower.
3/4″ – 3-3/4″ Adjustable to meet various height requirements
DECK PLATE MATERIAL THICKNESS
4 Gauge .25″ structural Q235 roll formed steel for durability.
SIDE PLATE THICKNESS
1/4″ .250″ Structural Q235 roll formed steel for durability.
BLADE TYPE
Duckfoot or reversible Y-blades. Our duckfoot blades are 40cr, alloy structural steel. (American standard, AISI/SAE/ASTM steel no: 5140) and forged to a tapered wedge shape to avoid material buildup on the blades. Each blade weighs 1.85 lb. (cast steel is much more durable than cast iron) competitors use flat face blades. Side by side comparison of WoodMaxx exclusive duckfoot design: The reversible Y-blades are made from .33″ 60si2mn, spring steel, (American standard: A29m) formed, heat treated, and quenched in oil and weigh 1.75 lb. each. Use the duckfoot blades for clearing saplings (1″ diameter or less), and the Y-blades for grasses.
NUMBER OF BLADES
22 Duck-foot or 44 Y- blades w/ 22 ctr blades between the Y (WoodMaxx exclusive)
PRECISION BLADE OVERLAP
The blades are staggered precisely with no gap in the mowing area. Blade overlap is important to achieve an even cutting result.
HINGED REAR GATE
This allows for easy inspection, cleaning, blade changing, and maintenance of your machine. The rear gate can also be left open for easier discharge in heavy conditions, or you can close the gate to greater mulching.
ROTOR ROTATION – REVERSE
The rotor spins in the opposite direction as the wheels of the tractor when traveling forward. This allows the blades to shear the material as it is folded forward by the mowers. The material is then thrown up and over the rotor.
ROTOR TUBE DIAMETER
4.25″- Heavy duty 5/16″ wall tubing for long life.
BALANCED ROTOR TUBE
The rotor tube is balance to reduce vibration and ensures that the mower runs smooth, and reduces wear on the bearings.
BALANCED CAST IRON PULLEYS
The V-belt pulleys are heavy duty cast iron and balance to eliminate vibration, and run smooth.
ROTOR SWING DIAMETER – 13.5″
Large swing so that the blades build required inertia.
ROTOR SHAFT SPEED
2160 RPM
BLADE SPEED
128 ft./sec – High tip speed = efficiency to cleanly cut material
HITCH TYPE
Category 1 standard 3 point or category 1 quick hitch – will attach to any cat 1- 3 point hitch and will also work with cat 1 quick hitch (except John Deere I-Match)
HYDRAULIC SIDE-SHIFT OFFSET
Shifted left (36″L/43″R), shifted right (22.5″L/57″R). This feature allows for variable offset from the center to the right of the tractor. This feature is helpful for mowing around fences, buildings, walkways, etc. Total offset can reach 18″. NOTE: Requires rear hydraulic remotes on tractor. We cannot supply these if your tractor does not already have them, they must be dealer or factory installed. (Hose ends that connect to the tractor are fitted with 1/2-14 NPTF threads, you will have to provide the corresponding fittings to complete the connection to your tractor.)
DRIVE BELTS
3 Total B-series USA gates “truflex” – we use only USA made gates belts on our flail mowers for long life. (Easy to find SAE standard belt size BX39)
DRIVE BELT TENSIONER
Solid state automatic – this feature automatically adjust the belt tension so you don’t have to worry about slippage or overworking the belts. This feature greatly increases the belt life.
PTO SPEED
540 ONLY
GEARBOX RATING
Up to 55 hp. heavy duty proven oil bath gearbox for long life.
GEARBOX TYPE
Cast iron 540 RPM with internal over-running clutch – when the PTO shaft is disengaged the built in over running clutch allows the PTO shaft to stop turning while the gearbox and rotor shaft slow down gradually. This is an important feature, without it, the gearbox will slam to a halt when the PTO is disengaged, causing stress to the gearbox and your tractor. This feature should not be overlooked when shopping for a mower.
REPLACEABLE SKID SHOES
The skid shoes reduce gouging are bolt on so you can adjust or replace them easily when the time comes.
DRIVE-LINE / PTO SHAFT
1-3/8″ 6 spline w/slip clutch.
GREASEABLE SHIELDED BEARINGS
Accessible greasable bearings for easy maintenance.
REAR HEIGHT ADJUSTING ROLLER DIAMETER
5.25″ With tapered ends – this roller contacts the ground to ensure even cutting height. The ends of this roller are rounded to eliminate gouging when turning corners. A scraper bar ensures that mud and debris buildup is cleaned off as you go.
POWDER COAT FINISH
The rust resistant baked on powder coat finish is more durable than conventional paint to keep your machine looking good for years.
WARRANTY – 2 YEARS
A robust machine with an equally robust warranty.
SERVICE
At WoodMaxx our service department is staffed with professional certified technicians that inspect each machine before it is shipped. This ensures that you get a trouble free machine from the get go. When you need technical help or parts, our courteous staff can help you get what you need from our fully stocked warehouse.
Just writing you to let you know how I like my flail mower. I received it in the spring and have roughly 20 hours on it. It works great, I am very satisfied. I use it for my wooded trails, grassy lanes, horse pasture and under fences. The hydraulic slide feature is awesome. I was a little worried about rocks with a flail mower, but it handles them well. It does a great job at mowing grass and small brush.
Rated 5 out of 5
Daryl in central Wi –
Mower works great, mows down tall weeds and grass with ease and in one pass , even where the tractor wheels drive over what you are going to mow .The hydraulic side shift is a nice option, mower appears to be built well. I was going to buy a brush mower but it would take too much room to turn around, glad I purchased this mower instead. I would recommend this product to anyone.
Rated 4 out of 5
Padraic –
The FM 78-H is a tough machine. It ate up 1″ and larger willows if I drove slowly, and went through smaller brush as if it weren’t there. My 65hp tractor was sufficient to run it, although if you’re consistently cutting larger saplings, I would use a more powerful tractor. The finish and materials on the flail are great and look as though they’ll hold up for many years. The hydraulic shift is well worth the small added cost if you ever intend to mow around obstacles like fences, large rocks, posts, etc. I found the duckfoot blades to be the right choice for the kinds of rough cutting I wanted to do on larger brush and woody plants.
A few small details could be improved to make this machine great: the document holder, hydraulic line routing, and hanger for the PTO could all be better.
None of these details would stop me from buying the machine if you need a sturdy, affordable flail, but fixing them would take it from good to great.
Rated 4 out of 5
Dan –
Ordered with Duck Foot hammers. Arrived undamaged. Only used for a couple hours so far to test how it cuts different types of growth. Cuts 2-4″ grass cleaner than my 72″ finish mower, Cuts 2′ pasture grass better than bush hog without windrows or uncut tire tracks. Mulches 1-2″ saplings that bush hog left laying on ground. Cuts 2 year growth in pasture with 3′ tall grass and weeds with 1″ sumac and black cherry saplings at same speed as 5′ bush hog on same tractor but leaves much better finish. Has mulched several 2-4″ branches that have fallen from trees. Hit couple low lying stumps and no damage found. Long term durability to be determined, but so far this thing is tough and leaves very nice finish. Bought it to replace finish mower and bush hog. Very pleased with it so far.
UPDATE: Nuts holding flails loosen on their own. Need better lock nuts Gland Nut in end of hydraulic cylinder came loose and had to be re-installed. Otherwise still holding up well and would buy again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Paul G –
Honestly, after pricing and looking at other mfgr flail mowers, I was concerned that WoodMaxx might mot be producing a quality product – simply based on the price differences.
I was wrong. This unit is well built and works great. I bought it with the Y blades because most of what I’ll cut is grass field, with the occasional small sapling that always seem to crop up. On 2-3′ hay, this cut without a hitch and left a cut as good as a finish mower. It didn’t even notice the small saplings, and left the cuttings evenly distributed. The grass was finely chopped up and without clumps, and decays nicely. Went right over a raised rock (that I forgot about) that would have been sent flying and probably damaged my bush hog.
So much more maneuverable and able to get into tighter areas than my bush hog, too.
The hydraulic offset was very handy when cutting close to the fence and woods lines, so glad I got that feature.
WoodMaxx, thanks!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jeffrey Baker –
First Flail mower i have used has performed great have used it with Y blades and Ducks foot
blades both work great,had one set of Y blades come off (my fault should have re tightened them
after first time per manual ) no damage except to nut and bolt (ez fix) I do use lock tight red when changing blades to make sure they stay tight !
The folks at Woodmax went out of their way to get my order to me as fast as they could and answered all my questions before and after I bought it ! READ LUBE CHART on page 19 and 20 not much lube needed at all,I got to 25 HRs and called because I thought that was the time to grease everything and was told only the PTO shaft needed it ! If you want your lawn to look like it was mowed with a reel mower but without the the problems buy their Flail mower ! The side shift works great also,unit is heavy and well built I am running a
Mahindra 3616 HST with no problems at all .
Will buy from them again !
Rated 5 out of 5
Anonymous –
I was immediately impressed with the strength in the shipping crate, which was 1-1/2×1-1/2 steel angle. It took awhile to disassemble the unit from the crating, but everything was in good shape, with no damage from common carrier shipping. Fit and finish is excellent. The assembly took a couple hours, but everything went together nicely, and the unit started up with no problems. I am very pleased with the quality of cut I’m getting. My pastures range from mostly grass to heavy weeds and a few small saplings. I got the duckfoot blades installed, with a set of y-blades also. No question about recommending the product. It’s sturdy and well built, and my pastures look great. The only tiny knock is that Woodmaxx puts a plastic cylinder with a screw-on lid on the mower deck to hold the instruction manual. The lid got knocked off at the first heavy brush and limbs I went through. No big loss, just seems unnecessary. Overall, a very satisfied customer.
Rated 5 out of 5
TLC –
If youre looking for a flail mower, dont look any further. I hooked up my FM-78H yesterday to my JD 3038E. This mower is not only a quality piece of equipment, but it is so well balanced. I am very impressed on how well constructed this mower is. Im using it on my yard as my primary mower. I searched the internet for several months before I bought this mower. The side shift is awesome. You dont have to break your neck to look back to see where it is. It mows extremely well and with short grass, you can fly with this mower. The only thing I would change is where the pto shaft connects to the mowers gearbox. With the 540 shaft connection, I would use the same spring loaded pin connection on both ends, as the mower pto connection was the hardest part for me to get accomplished. Im totally satisfied with the mower. Also, WoodMaxx customers service is second to none. They are very polite and extremely knowledgeable on their equipment. Thanks Woodmaxx. Heavy duty and quality equipment.
Rated 5 out of 5
Tall Grass a Mowin –
I received my mower last week.
*Sales process was easy
*Strong shipping crate
*Assembly was easy except for the pto shaft. I followed the measuring instructions and it was still too long. I ended making several cuts with trial fittings in between each cut.
*After an hour’s use, everything is great. The mower is very quiet and cuts long grass very well. We purchases this as an alternative to our rotary cutter, and it works just as in the videos we watched. Our mowing speed is slower, but with 1 pass, we are very happy with the results.
*All in all, this has been a great experience,
Rated 5 out of 5
Bob Kacalek –
So far, have mowed variety of fields, smooth and rough. Grasses to brush and berries! Performing as well as to better than expected. Side shift is well balanced, performs great, very useful. Only challenge was the inspection plug for gearbox oil was covered by safety plate mount and drilled large hole for access to remedy. Thankful the unit shipped in metal framework as frame was bent badly but unit was perfect on arrival. Feel confident this mower will provide many years of excellent service. Thank You!
Rated 5 out of 5
charles Hahn –
very nice unit cuts very even and mulches well-the delivery was done in a timely manner it seems to be matched well to my Kubota l3901 very satisfied
Rated 5 out of 5
Tom bauder –
I have this mower and just can’t believe just how well it’s built. Heavy steel, large gear box, heavy duty bearings, they did everything right. The PTO shaft is heavy duty also. Great instructions, you name it. I keep looking at it and am amazed by the high level of quality and thought that went into this implement.
Rated 5 out of 5
Steve Ligler –
Glad I waited for the WoodMaxx 78H! Running it with a JD 3046r (46 HP, 34 HP at PTO), and it handles the mower quite well. The tractor is definitely working when mowing high grass or light brush, but not more than it should.
The good:
– Heavy/well built
– Nice access door to check/maintain blades
– The hydraulic side shift is a must have!
– Smooth running. Cuts well.
– Steel shipping crate really protected the mower.
The others – (all minor):
– Hydraulic hoses could be 6″ longer.
– The manual is outdated. Doesn’t show the correct height adjustment.
– Process in the manual for shortening the drive shaft is either very unclear, or does not work like they think. Tried it their way – still too long (better than too short!!!). Did it my way the 2nd time and bingo.
Recommendations:
– Take your time and go through the whole machine. Check every bolt.
– Absolutely get the hydraulic side shift!
– Absolutely get a WoodMaxx over the cheaper units out there.
Rated 4 out of 5
Phillip Lovett –
What I have found, with the mower properly set up, it doesn’t shift to the left (from sitting in the operator’s seat) enough to cut as wide as my rear tire track which is 6 feet. It falls about 4″ short of being as wide as the outside of the left rear tire, while the right side is overlapping the tire width by 8″ or so. To help move the mower to the left more I put spacers on the side shift cylinder and cylinder rod to push it further to that side. I have pushed it as far as it can go given the length of the threads on the cylinder and rod, and I’m about an inch shy of being as wide as the left side.
Also the operator/maintenance manual doesn’t show the manufacturing updates that have been done to this mower which added to the set up time.
Cut very nicely in about 1 ft tall grass/weeds.
I will update this review after I have had a chance to cut some tall grass later in the season.
Rated 5 out of 5
DC –
Had an issue with one of the bearings on the mower in the spring. The service tech Joel was very helpful in getting the parts to me promptly with his recommendations. They definitly stand behind their products and are eager to help. They do their absolute best to keep their customers happy. Nice to have a company that takes care of you after the sale. I would definitely recommend this Flail mower. Its built like a beast and does a great job, with great support after the sale is long over. Great job Woodsmax.
Rated 4 out of 5
Caleb –
The first mower I ordered arrived damaged by the shipping company, The folks at Woodmaxx promptly sent me out a new unit and within 5 days it was delivered to my door. Other than some minor “orange peeling” in a small section of paint the unit was flawless. Setup was straightforward and I was mowing in the hour.
Improvements:
– Take into account the the length of the hydraulic ram in regards to hose length. One hose is borderline short and the other is too long even with adjusting the fittings and re-routing hoses
– Move the piece of angle that is aft of the roller further from roller to reduce debris entrapment
– Protect the grease fittings on the roller, they are in a precarious spot.
– Double check ALL fasteners
Pro’s
– Side shift feature is outstanding, going around obstacles is a breeze.
– I got the “duck foot” brush blades- they work great on brush but am very impressed how they work on grass.
I have roughly 6 hours of mowing on the unit, and I love it so far!
Rated 5 out of 5
Mark Gabala –
I mow a 20 acre fruit orchard in Michigan. I purchased for price, during initial operations I had some concerns making my rating a 3.5/5. However the outstanding attention to detail and prompt replacement of parts has earned a 5/5 rating. This mower is 1/3 the price of other orchard options I looked at. I prefer the duck foot cutter to the flail blades, (personal preference). I would and will purchase again.. Square Nail Farm, Allegan Michigan
Rated 5 out of 5
Alfons Kuhn –
It shipped in timely manner. I find it extremely well built, rugged, durable. After setting it up I went to cut on my farm around buildings after all livestock gone and a bit overgrown on places. It works really well, leaves a nice finish, my son came by and even noticed it. I like specially the hydraulic side shift.
Rated 5 out of 5
KENNY –
Such a nice change to receive a product that works just the way you receive it. Well thought out and works wonderfully. Using this, as the previous FM-62H on a JD 3039R, in 4′ tall growth and it does an amazing job at roughly twice the speed of my previous rotary mower/brush hog.
Rated 5 out of 5
Tim Collins –
This is my second mowing season using my FM 78H. I installed hammer blades last year and wow what a difference. This mower is my primary mower since I mow 5 acres. I would not own a flail mower without side shift. This makes the mower so much more useful. I?m also glad I did my homework before I bought. Hands down, Woodmaxx is the best bang for your buck. Go ahead and do your homework, but you?ll come back to Woodmaxx. Makes mowing fun again! Thanks TLC in Oklahoma
Rated 5 out of 5
David Day –
Thrilled with this purchase. The shipping was fast and delivered across the country quickly. Assembly was easy – had it on the tractor and took it out to the yard to give it a try. First time using it and it cut the grass into fine cuttings. Easy to use and does a fantastic job. Highly recommend Woodmaxx products. Great company to deal with.
Rated 5 out of 5
A Byars –
This is the first flail mower I’ve owned and I really like it. It’s great being able to mow the yard then raising it a little and mowing the pasture and wiping out some blackberry thickets. I like the Y knives for my use and the side shift will cut down on my string trimmer time in the orchard.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Gene P. –
Just writing you to let you know how I like my flail mower. I received it in the spring and have roughly 20 hours on it. It works great, I am very satisfied. I use it for my wooded trails, grassy lanes, horse pasture and under fences. The hydraulic slide feature is awesome. I was a little worried about rocks with a flail mower, but it handles them well. It does a great job at mowing grass and small brush.
Daryl in central Wi –
Mower works great, mows down tall weeds and grass with ease and in one pass , even where the tractor wheels drive over what you are going to mow .The hydraulic side shift is a nice option, mower appears to be built well. I was going to buy a brush mower but it would take too much room to turn around, glad I purchased this mower instead. I would recommend this product to anyone.
Padraic –
The FM 78-H is a tough machine. It ate up 1″ and larger willows if I drove slowly, and went through smaller brush as if it weren’t there. My 65hp tractor was sufficient to run it, although if you’re consistently cutting larger saplings, I would use a more powerful tractor. The finish and materials on the flail are great and look as though they’ll hold up for many years. The hydraulic shift is well worth the small added cost if you ever intend to mow around obstacles like fences, large rocks, posts, etc. I found the duckfoot blades to be the right choice for the kinds of rough cutting I wanted to do on larger brush and woody plants.
A few small details could be improved to make this machine great: the document holder, hydraulic line routing, and hanger for the PTO could all be better.
None of these details would stop me from buying the machine if you need a sturdy, affordable flail, but fixing them would take it from good to great.
Dan –
Ordered with Duck Foot hammers. Arrived undamaged. Only used for a couple hours so far to test how it cuts different types of growth. Cuts 2-4″ grass cleaner than my 72″ finish mower, Cuts 2′ pasture grass better than bush hog without windrows or uncut tire tracks. Mulches 1-2″ saplings that bush hog left laying on ground. Cuts 2 year growth in pasture with 3′ tall grass and weeds with 1″ sumac and black cherry saplings at same speed as 5′ bush hog on same tractor but leaves much better finish. Has mulched several 2-4″ branches that have fallen from trees. Hit couple low lying stumps and no damage found. Long term durability to be determined, but so far this thing is tough and leaves very nice finish. Bought it to replace finish mower and bush hog. Very pleased with it so far.
UPDATE: Nuts holding flails loosen on their own. Need better lock nuts Gland Nut in end of hydraulic cylinder came loose and had to be re-installed. Otherwise still holding up well and would buy again.
Paul G –
Honestly, after pricing and looking at other mfgr flail mowers, I was concerned that WoodMaxx might mot be producing a quality product – simply based on the price differences.
I was wrong. This unit is well built and works great. I bought it with the Y blades because most of what I’ll cut is grass field, with the occasional small sapling that always seem to crop up. On 2-3′ hay, this cut without a hitch and left a cut as good as a finish mower. It didn’t even notice the small saplings, and left the cuttings evenly distributed. The grass was finely chopped up and without clumps, and decays nicely. Went right over a raised rock (that I forgot about) that would have been sent flying and probably damaged my bush hog.
So much more maneuverable and able to get into tighter areas than my bush hog, too.
The hydraulic offset was very handy when cutting close to the fence and woods lines, so glad I got that feature.
WoodMaxx, thanks!
Jeffrey Baker –
First Flail mower i have used has performed great have used it with Y blades and Ducks foot
blades both work great,had one set of Y blades come off (my fault should have re tightened them
after first time per manual ) no damage except to nut and bolt (ez fix) I do use lock tight red when changing blades to make sure they stay tight !
The folks at Woodmax went out of their way to get my order to me as fast as they could and answered all my questions before and after I bought it ! READ LUBE CHART on page 19 and 20 not much lube needed at all,I got to 25 HRs and called because I thought that was the time to grease everything and was told only the PTO shaft needed it ! If you want your lawn to look like it was mowed with a reel mower but without the the problems buy their Flail mower ! The side shift works great also,unit is heavy and well built I am running a
Mahindra 3616 HST with no problems at all .
Will buy from them again !
Anonymous –
I was immediately impressed with the strength in the shipping crate, which was 1-1/2×1-1/2 steel angle. It took awhile to disassemble the unit from the crating, but everything was in good shape, with no damage from common carrier shipping. Fit and finish is excellent. The assembly took a couple hours, but everything went together nicely, and the unit started up with no problems. I am very pleased with the quality of cut I’m getting. My pastures range from mostly grass to heavy weeds and a few small saplings. I got the duckfoot blades installed, with a set of y-blades also. No question about recommending the product. It’s sturdy and well built, and my pastures look great. The only tiny knock is that Woodmaxx puts a plastic cylinder with a screw-on lid on the mower deck to hold the instruction manual. The lid got knocked off at the first heavy brush and limbs I went through. No big loss, just seems unnecessary. Overall, a very satisfied customer.
TLC –
If youre looking for a flail mower, dont look any further. I hooked up my FM-78H yesterday to my JD 3038E. This mower is not only a quality piece of equipment, but it is so well balanced. I am very impressed on how well constructed this mower is. Im using it on my yard as my primary mower. I searched the internet for several months before I bought this mower. The side shift is awesome. You dont have to break your neck to look back to see where it is. It mows extremely well and with short grass, you can fly with this mower. The only thing I would change is where the pto shaft connects to the mowers gearbox. With the 540 shaft connection, I would use the same spring loaded pin connection on both ends, as the mower pto connection was the hardest part for me to get accomplished. Im totally satisfied with the mower. Also, WoodMaxx customers service is second to none. They are very polite and extremely knowledgeable on their equipment. Thanks Woodmaxx. Heavy duty and quality equipment.
Tall Grass a Mowin –
I received my mower last week.
*Sales process was easy
*Strong shipping crate
*Assembly was easy except for the pto shaft. I followed the measuring instructions and it was still too long. I ended making several cuts with trial fittings in between each cut.
*After an hour’s use, everything is great. The mower is very quiet and cuts long grass very well. We purchases this as an alternative to our rotary cutter, and it works just as in the videos we watched. Our mowing speed is slower, but with 1 pass, we are very happy with the results.
*All in all, this has been a great experience,
Bob Kacalek –
So far, have mowed variety of fields, smooth and rough. Grasses to brush and berries! Performing as well as to better than expected. Side shift is well balanced, performs great, very useful. Only challenge was the inspection plug for gearbox oil was covered by safety plate mount and drilled large hole for access to remedy. Thankful the unit shipped in metal framework as frame was bent badly but unit was perfect on arrival. Feel confident this mower will provide many years of excellent service. Thank You!
charles Hahn –
very nice unit cuts very even and mulches well-the delivery was done in a timely manner it seems to be matched well to my Kubota l3901 very satisfied
Tom bauder –
I have this mower and just can’t believe just how well it’s built. Heavy steel, large gear box, heavy duty bearings, they did everything right. The PTO shaft is heavy duty also. Great instructions, you name it. I keep looking at it and am amazed by the high level of quality and thought that went into this implement.
Steve Ligler –
Glad I waited for the WoodMaxx 78H! Running it with a JD 3046r (46 HP, 34 HP at PTO), and it handles the mower quite well. The tractor is definitely working when mowing high grass or light brush, but not more than it should.
The good:
– Heavy/well built
– Nice access door to check/maintain blades
– The hydraulic side shift is a must have!
– Smooth running. Cuts well.
– Steel shipping crate really protected the mower.
The others – (all minor):
– Hydraulic hoses could be 6″ longer.
– The manual is outdated. Doesn’t show the correct height adjustment.
– Process in the manual for shortening the drive shaft is either very unclear, or does not work like they think. Tried it their way – still too long (better than too short!!!). Did it my way the 2nd time and bingo.
Recommendations:
– Take your time and go through the whole machine. Check every bolt.
– Absolutely get the hydraulic side shift!
– Absolutely get a WoodMaxx over the cheaper units out there.
Phillip Lovett –
What I have found, with the mower properly set up, it doesn’t shift to the left (from sitting in the operator’s seat) enough to cut as wide as my rear tire track which is 6 feet. It falls about 4″ short of being as wide as the outside of the left rear tire, while the right side is overlapping the tire width by 8″ or so. To help move the mower to the left more I put spacers on the side shift cylinder and cylinder rod to push it further to that side. I have pushed it as far as it can go given the length of the threads on the cylinder and rod, and I’m about an inch shy of being as wide as the left side.
Also the operator/maintenance manual doesn’t show the manufacturing updates that have been done to this mower which added to the set up time.
Cut very nicely in about 1 ft tall grass/weeds.
I will update this review after I have had a chance to cut some tall grass later in the season.
DC –
Had an issue with one of the bearings on the mower in the spring. The service tech Joel was very helpful in getting the parts to me promptly with his recommendations. They definitly stand behind their products and are eager to help. They do their absolute best to keep their customers happy. Nice to have a company that takes care of you after the sale. I would definitely recommend this Flail mower. Its built like a beast and does a great job, with great support after the sale is long over. Great job Woodsmax.
Caleb –
The first mower I ordered arrived damaged by the shipping company, The folks at Woodmaxx promptly sent me out a new unit and within 5 days it was delivered to my door. Other than some minor “orange peeling” in a small section of paint the unit was flawless. Setup was straightforward and I was mowing in the hour.
Improvements:
– Take into account the the length of the hydraulic ram in regards to hose length. One hose is borderline short and the other is too long even with adjusting the fittings and re-routing hoses
– Move the piece of angle that is aft of the roller further from roller to reduce debris entrapment
– Protect the grease fittings on the roller, they are in a precarious spot.
– Double check ALL fasteners
Pro’s
– Side shift feature is outstanding, going around obstacles is a breeze.
– I got the “duck foot” brush blades- they work great on brush but am very impressed how they work on grass.
I have roughly 6 hours of mowing on the unit, and I love it so far!
Mark Gabala –
I mow a 20 acre fruit orchard in Michigan. I purchased for price, during initial operations I had some concerns making my rating a 3.5/5. However the outstanding attention to detail and prompt replacement of parts has earned a 5/5 rating. This mower is 1/3 the price of other orchard options I looked at. I prefer the duck foot cutter to the flail blades, (personal preference). I would and will purchase again.. Square Nail Farm, Allegan Michigan
Alfons Kuhn –
It shipped in timely manner. I find it extremely well built, rugged, durable. After setting it up I went to cut on my farm around buildings after all livestock gone and a bit overgrown on places. It works really well, leaves a nice finish, my son came by and even noticed it. I like specially the hydraulic side shift.
KENNY –
Such a nice change to receive a product that works just the way you receive it. Well thought out and works wonderfully. Using this, as the previous FM-62H on a JD 3039R, in 4′ tall growth and it does an amazing job at roughly twice the speed of my previous rotary mower/brush hog.
Tim Collins –
This is my second mowing season using my FM 78H. I installed hammer blades last year and wow what a difference. This mower is my primary mower since I mow 5 acres. I would not own a flail mower without side shift. This makes the mower so much more useful. I?m also glad I did my homework before I bought. Hands down, Woodmaxx is the best bang for your buck. Go ahead and do your homework, but you?ll come back to Woodmaxx. Makes mowing fun again! Thanks TLC in Oklahoma
David Day –
Thrilled with this purchase. The shipping was fast and delivered across the country quickly. Assembly was easy – had it on the tractor and took it out to the yard to give it a try. First time using it and it cut the grass into fine cuttings. Easy to use and does a fantastic job. Highly recommend Woodmaxx products. Great company to deal with.
A Byars –
This is the first flail mower I’ve owned and I really like it. It’s great being able to mow the yard then raising it a little and mowing the pasture and wiping out some blackberry thickets. I like the Y knives for my use and the side shift will cut down on my string trimmer time in the orchard.