Woodland Mills WC68 6-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper Review (2026)
6-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper and one of the most popular compact-tractor chippers in North America.
Woodland Mills WC68 walkaround: 6-inch PTO chipper — the most popular compact-tractor pick
Official walkaround of the WC68 showing the 23" x 27" infeed hopper, direct-drive flywheel, and adjustable feed roller system.
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- Hydraulic feed at compact-tractor pricing
- Heavy flywheel for its class
- Strong reputation among compact tractor owners
- 3-year warranty (shorter than the historical 5-yr marketing)
- 6-inch ceiling
Hydraulic feed at the lowest price in the 6-inch tier
Woodland Mills upgraded the WC68 to a hydraulic-feed system with an 8.25-inch self-contained powered roller. That puts it on the same feed-tech tier as the Woodmaxx WM-8H, MX-8800, and Woodland Mills' own WC88 — but at $3,450 MSRP (often $3,105 on sale) it's the cheapest hydraulic-feed PTO chipper in our coverage. For compact tractor owners, this is the single biggest reason the WC68 is the most-recommended chipper in its class.
The flywheel is also noticeably heavier than competing chippers in the 6-inch tier, which translates to sustained feed rate on hardwood — once it's up to speed, it doesn't slow down when you feed thicker material. Heavy flywheel + hydraulic feed at sub-$3,500 is the value proposition.
Where the WC68 loses to the competition
The 3-year warranty is shorter than what Woodland Mills used to offer (and shorter than the Woodmaxx MX-Series at 7 years). For a chipper you plan to keep a decade, the WC68's warranty window expires while the machine is still middle-aged. The Woodmaxx MX-8600 doubles the warranty to 7 years for $1,340 more — that's the trade.
The other limit is capacity: 6 inches. If you regularly chip 7-8 inch hardwood, step up to the WC88 ($3,995, also hydraulic feed) or the Woodmaxx WM-8H ($4,095, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty).
What's in the box
- WC68 chipper unit
- PTO shaft with shear pin (540 RPM)
- Blade set (2 knives, installed)
- 3-point hitch pins (Cat I / Cat II)
- Discharge chute
- Hardware bag
- Operator manual
- Tractor (20–65 HP with 540 RPM PTO)
- Quick-hitch adapter (iMatch or equivalent)
- Ear protection and safety glasses
Ships freight. One of the most popular PTO chippers in North America. PTO shaft adjustment is the main assembly step. Woodland Mills includes detailed setup video links in the manual.
Woodland Mills WC68 6-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper specs at a glance
- Brand
- Woodland Mills
- Model
- WC68
- Power type
- pto
- Max branch diameter
- 6"
- Power
- PTO-driven, 20–65 HP tractor
- Feed system
- Hydraulic
- Weight
- 790 lb
- Price (MSRP)
- $3,450
- Warranty
- 3 years
Will the WC68 fit my tractor?
The Woodland Mills WC68 6-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper needs 20–65 PTO HP. Here’s how 26 common compact and utility tractors match up — rated PTO HP, not engine HP (after typical 10–15% drivetrain losses).
| Tractor | Engine HP | PTO HP | Hitch | WC68 verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubota BX23S | 22 | 15 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kubota LX2610 | 25 | 19 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| Kubota L2501 | 24 | 19 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| Kubota L3301 | 33 | 26 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Kubota L3901 | 37 | 30 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Kubota L4701 | 47 | 38 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Kubota MX5400 | 55 | 45 | Cat 2 | Fits |
| Kubota M4-071 | 70 | 58 | Cat 2 | Fits |
| John Deere 1025R | 24 | 18 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| John Deere 2025R | 25 | 19 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| John Deere 3025E | 24.7 | 19 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| John Deere 3032E | 32 | 25 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| John Deere 3039R | 38.2 | 30 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| John Deere 3046R | 45.3 | 37 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| John Deere 4044M | 43.1 | 35 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| John Deere 4066R | 65.9 | 53 | Cat 2 | Fits |
| Mahindra 1533 | 33 | 26 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Mahindra 2638 HST | 37.4 | 29 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Massey Ferguson 1735M | 35 | 28 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Massey Ferguson 2705E | 49 | 40 | Cat 2 | Fits |
| New Holland WORKMASTER 25S | 24.7 | 18 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| New Holland WORKMASTER 35 | 35 | 28 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Kioti CK2620 | 24.5 | 20 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| Kioti NX4510 | 45 | 38 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| LS MT225S | 24.4 | 18 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| LS MT342 | 41.3 | 32 | Cat 1 | Fits |
“Fits” = within the manufacturer’s rated PTO HP range. “At limit” = below the minimum by 5–15%, will feel underpowered on seasoned hardwood. “Too small” = undersized for reliable chipping. “Oversized” = above range (works but overkill).
Who should buy the WC68 — and who should skip it
- You own a tractor with 20–65 PTO HP and a Category 1 or 2 three-point hitch.
- Your typical branches are 4–6 inches in diameter.
- You regularly chip forked, crooked, or limby brush that hangs up on mechanical-feed chippers.
- You don't own a tractor. A gas-standalone chipper of comparable capacity is the right category for you.
Alternatives to the WC68
$2,775 more. 8-inch capacity (2 inch larger). 7-year warranty. from Woodmaxx.
$1,700 more. 5-inch capacity (1 inch smaller). mechanical feed (simpler, cheaper). 5-year warranty. from Wallenstein.
$1,340 more. same 6-inch capacity. mechanical feed (simpler, cheaper). 7-year warranty. from Woodmaxx.
WC68accessories & add-ons
Set of 2 replacement chipper knives. Available from woodlandmills.com.
Custom-fit cover for the WC68. UV-resistant and water-repellent.
Replacement PTO shaft shear pins.
Upgraded PTO shaft with wider-angle joints for steep 3-point setups.
iMatch-compatible adapter for fast 3-point hookup.
WC68blade replacement & sharpening
Four flywheel knives on the WC68 — a defining spec versus the 2-knife competitors in this size class, and the reason chip quality holds up on 6-inch hardwood.
All four knives must be sharpened to the same dimension to keep the heavy flywheel balanced — mark them 1–4 at removal.
Woodland Mills publishes the exact blade-to-anvil gap (~0.030") in the WC68 manual; set it with a feeler gauge on reinstall.
- Blade count
- 4 flywheel knives
- Bed knife
- Yes — fixed anvil
- Sharpening angle
- 30–35°
- Reversible
- Yes — doubles edge life
- Blade material
- Hardened tool steel
- Replacement set
- $160–$240
- Sharpening interval
- 30–50 hours
- Bolt torque
- 50–60 ft-lb
- 01Stop the machine and isolate power
Disengage the PTO, shut the tractor off, and remove the key. Wait 60+ seconds for the WC68 flywheel to stop completely — it coasts longer than the engine.
- 02Open the discharge or flywheel access cover
Remove the bolts on the WC68 flywheel access hood (or flip the hinged hood if equipped). Swing it clear so you have line-of-sight to every blade position.
- 03Rotate the flywheel to the first blade
Turn the flywheel by hand until the first of the 4 knives is aligned with the access opening. Mark it "1" with a paint pen so you can keep track of orientation.
- 04Break the blade bolts loose
Use a breaker bar on each of the 2 blade bolts. Woodmaxx and Woodland Mills both thread-lock these at the factory; heat gently if they don't yield. Do not pry on the flywheel itself.
- 05Slide the blade out and inspect
Remove the blade and inspect for cracks, nicks deeper than 1/16", and rounded bevels. A cracked blade goes straight in the scrap bin — never re-sharpened.
- 06Flip or replace the blade
The WC68 uses 4 reversible knives. If the secondary edge is still clean, simply flip the blade for a fresh edge. If both edges are worn, sharpen at 30–35° on a belt sander — quench every 10–15 seconds to avoid bluing the Hardened tool steel.
- 07Balance the set
Remove equal material from every blade in the set. On the WC68's 4-knife flywheel, even a 1–2 gram imbalance shows up as vibration at operating RPM. Weigh on a gram scale after sharpening.
- 08Reinstall and torque
Apply anti-seize to the bolt threads (not the heads) and torque in a star pattern to 50–60 ft-lb. Use fresh lock washers — reused washers are the #1 cause of a loose blade downstream.
- 09Repeat for every remaining blade
Rotate the flywheel and repeat steps 3–8 for the remaining 3 knives. Then inspect the fixed bed knife — if the edge is rounded, flip or replace it and reset the blade-to-anvil gap to ~0.030" with feeler gauges.
- 10Close up and test-run
Rotate the flywheel by hand one full revolution to confirm no contact with the bed knife or housing. Close the access cover. Start the tractor, engage PTO at low idle, and listen for 30 seconds before ramping to operating RPM. Feed one small test branch before returning to normal work.
Real owners on the WC68
- Heavy flywheel punches above its HP class. The WC68 flywheel is the most-cited strength — owners on 25–30 HP compacts report it chips 5–6 inch hardwood with authority.
- Mechanical feed is a love-it-or-leave-it. No hydraulic rollers. Fans say it is simple and unbreakable; detractors wish for powered feed on thicker stock.
- Fit and finish is above the price point. Paint, welds, bearing covers and instructions are repeatedly called genuinely good — not cost-cut.
“My 26 HP Kubota does not flinch. The WC68 flywheel carries so much momentum that the tractor is almost coasting through 5-inch maple.”
“No hydraulics means nothing to leak, nothing to adjust, nothing to rebuild in ten years. That simplicity is exactly why I bought it.”
“Unboxed and the paint, welds and manual are all a tier above what I expected for three grand. Woodland Mills seems to actually care.”
“Four years, four cords of firewood brush per year, zero issues. Replaced the blades once. Best tractor implement I have ever bought.”
Quotes are short excerpts used editorially with attribution. Click any source link to read the full thread.
WC68 — frequently asked questions
- Is the Woodland Mills WC68 worth it?
- Yes — for 20–65 HP compact tractor owners chipping up to 6-inch material, it's the best value in the category in 2026. Hydraulic feed, heavy flywheel, and $3,450 MSRP undercut the comparable Woodmaxx MX-8600 ($4,790) by $1,340.
- WC68 vs Woodmaxx MX-8600 — which should I buy?
- WC68 is $1,340 cheaper and has a 3-year warranty. MX-8600 has a 7-year warranty, hydrostatic-assist variable-speed feed control, and Woodmaxx's faster parts shipping from NY. Both have hydraulic-style feed and 6-inch capacity. Buy the WC68 if price matters; buy the MX-8600 if you want the long warranty and the variable-speed control.
- What size tractor do I need for the WC68?
- 20–65 HP tractor. The sweet spot is 30–40 HP. On 20 HP subcompacts you'll feel the HP limit on 6-inch hardwood; on 40+ HP tractors you're comfortably above the minimum.
- Does the WC68 have hydraulic feed?
- Yes — Woodland Mills updated the WC68 to a self-contained hydraulic feed system with an 8.25-inch powered infeed roller. Older online sources may describe it as gravity/mechanical feed; that was the previous generation. The 2026 WC68 is hydraulic.
- What are the common problems with the WC68?
- The most-reported issues are: hydraulic feed sensitivity (the safety bar can trip on long brush, which is by design), discharge chute clogging on wet chips (clear periodically), and paint chips from freight shipping (cosmetic only). None are mechanical defects — they're operational characteristics owners adapt to within the first few sessions.
- WC68 vs woodmaxx wm-8h — which should I buy?
- See our head-to-head comparison for the detailed breakdown. In short: the WC68 at $3,450 offers 6-inch capacity with hydraulic feed. The right pick depends on your tractor HP, branch size, and whether you need hydraulic feed for forked material.
- WC68 vs woodmaxx mx-8800 — which should I buy?
- See our head-to-head comparison for the detailed breakdown. In short: the WC68 at $3,450 offers 6-inch capacity with hydraulic feed. The right pick depends on your tractor HP, branch size, and whether you need hydraulic feed for forked material.
- Will the WC68 work on a kubota l2501?
- Check your tractor's rated PTO HP (not engine HP). The WC68 needs 20–65 PTO HP. Most kubota l2501 tractors produce enough PTO HP, but verify your specific model's PTO output in the owner's manual. Also confirm your 3-point hitch lift capacity can handle 790 lb. See our tractor compatibility table above for 26 common tractor models.
- Will the WC68 work on a john deere 3039r?
- Check your tractor's rated PTO HP (not engine HP). The WC68 needs 20–65 PTO HP. Most john deere 3039r tractors produce enough PTO HP, but verify your specific model's PTO output in the owner's manual. Also confirm your 3-point hitch lift capacity can handle 790 lb. See our tractor compatibility table above for 26 common tractor models.
- WC68 vs wc88 which one — which should I buy?
- See our head-to-head comparison for the detailed breakdown. In short: the WC68 at $3,450 offers 6-inch capacity with hydraulic feed. The right pick depends on your tractor HP, branch size, and whether you need hydraulic feed for forked material.
- How do I replace or sharpen the blades on the WC68?
- The WC68 uses hardened steel reversible blades. Sharpen once per season for typical use (20–40 hours/year), or every 15–20 hours under heavy hardwood load. A replacement blade set runs roughly $80–$250 depending on the model. See our blade sharpening guide for the step-by-step process.
- How much HP do I need to run the WC68?
- The WC68 needs 20–65 PTO HP. That's PTO horsepower (roughly 85–90% of engine HP). A 23 HP engine tractor produces about 20 PTO HP. Comfortable range: 25–59 PTO HP.
- What warranty does the WC68 come with?
- Woodland Mills covers the WC68 with a 3-year warranty. Covers manufacturing defects; excludes wearing parts and cosmetic damage.
- What can the WC68 actually chip in real-world use?
- Rated for 6-inch branches. In practice, green softwood chips reliably at rated max. Seasoned hardwood at 6 inches slows the feed rate and bogs the flywheel on knots — comfortable working capacity on hardwood is 4.5–5.5 inches. The hydraulic feed handles forked and crooked material well.
- Is the WC68 worth buying?
- At $3,450, the WC68 is the value sweet spot — enough capacity for regular property use without commercial pricing. The 3-year warranty is shorter than competitors — factor that into your decision.