Woodland Mills WC88 8-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper Review (2026)
8-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper — the largest in the Woodland Mills lineup and one of the cheapest 8-inch hydraulics in the category.
Woodland Mills WC88 walkaround: 8-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper
Manufacturer tour of the WC88's auto-hydraulic infeed system, 8" x 8" opening, and folding infeed/discharge chutes for storage.
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- Hydraulic feed at 8-inch capacity for under $4,000
- Light for its class at 1,054 lb
- Self-contained hydraulic system — no external reservoir to maintain
- 3-year warranty (Woodmaxx MX-8800 is 7-yr at higher price)
- 35 HP minimum rules out sub-35 HP compacts
Why the WC88 is the new 8-inch value pick in 2026
Woodland Mills repositioned the WC88 to $3,995 for 2026, putting it $100 under the Woodmaxx WM-8H for an 8-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper with a 3-year warranty. Historically the WC88 was the premium option in this segment; now it's the price-leader. The clamshell flywheel housing — the whole top half lifts off for blade access — has always been a real ownership advantage over the small inspection-door designs on competing chippers, and at $100 cheaper than the WM-8H that advantage is no longer paid for.
What you get: a 24-inch, 1-inch-thick steel flywheel spinning at 1,100+ RPM, four reversible hardened-steel blades, a self-contained hydraulic feed system with adjustable roller speed and direction, an 8-inch single hydraulic infeed roller, a 23x27-inch hopper that folds for transport, and an integrated trailer hitch and saw mount included as standard. At 1,054 lb shipping weight, it sits between the lighter WM-8M and heavier MX-8800.
WC88 vs Woodmaxx WM-8H: the real decision
Three things separate the WC88 and WM-8H now that price and warranty are essentially matched. First, infeed rollers: the WM-8H runs dual powered hydraulic rollers (top and bottom), while the WC88 powers only the top roller. In practice this means the WM-8H grabs limby, forked, and crooked material slightly more aggressively. WC88 owners on TractorByNet and the Woodland Mills Facebook group report occasional cases where the top roller spins on a hard piece without pulling it in — backing out and re-feeding usually fixes it, but the WM-8H rarely does that.
Second, HP floor: the WC88 wants 35 PTO HP minimum, the WM-8H lists 30. If you're on a Kubota L2501 or similar sub-30-PTO-HP compact, the WM-8H is the only option. Third, hopper geometry: the WM-8H has a flat infeed table that drags long trunks in more easily, while the WC88's angled table is harder on full-length material but folds tighter for storage. Net: if you clear 35 PTO HP and chip mostly typical brush, the WC88 is the cheaper, easier-maintained pick. If you're under 35 PTO HP or chip a lot of crooked yard-tree limbs, pay the $100 for the WM-8H.
Tractor sizing and 8-inch hardwood reality
Woodland Mills specs the WC88 for 35-100+ PTO HP, but the company explicitly notes that full 8-inch logs at full feed speed need 60+ PTO HP. That matches forum reports: owners on 35-45 PTO HP tractors (Kubota LX, Mahindra 4500, JD 3-Series) routinely chip 6-7 inch material without complaint, but slow down or back-feed when they hit a true 8-inch hardwood round. Black oak, hickory, and dense maple at the 8-inch ceiling will bog any sub-60 HP setup — that's physics, not a defect of the WC88.
Where the 8-inch throat earns its money for smaller tractors is forked and crooked material. A 5-inch limb with a fork that measures 7 inches across the wide point won't fit a 6-inch chipper but slides through the WC88. Several long-form owner threads cite this as the deciding reason they bought the 8-inch model on a 35-45 HP tractor — not for maximum diameter but for awkward shape clearance.
Maintenance, blades, and known gotchas
The clamshell housing is the WC88's standout maintenance feature. Reversing or replacing the four blades is genuinely a 15-minute job versus the awkward small-door access on the WM-8H. Woodland Mills recommends sharpening every 25-50 hours; blades are reversible for a second cutting edge before they need to come off entirely. Replacement blade sets are stocked direct from Vaughan, ON and ship reasonably quickly.
Known issues from owner reports: the top roller spinning on hard material (fix: adjust the two roller-down-pressure spring eye bolts to 1/4-inch deflection per the manual), occasional loose hardware on arrival that needs a torque-check during assembly, and the standard wear cycle on the four BX cogged drive belts. None of these are deal-breakers — they're the normal maintenance footprint of a hydraulic-feed PTO chipper. The Wallenstein BX72S ($7,840, 7-inch gravity-feed) sidesteps the hydraulic-feed complexity entirely but costs $3,845 more and gives up an inch of capacity.
What's in the box
- WC88 chipper unit
- PTO shaft with shear pin (540 RPM)
- Blade set (2 knives, installed)
- Hydraulic feed roller assembly (installed)
- Hydraulic hoses and fittings (for tractor remote hookup)
- 3-point hitch pins (Cat I / Cat II)
- Discharge chute
- Hardware bag
- Operator manual
- Tractor (30–80 HP with 540 RPM PTO and rear hydraulic remotes)
- Quick-hitch adapter (iMatch or equivalent)
- Ear protection and safety glasses
Ships freight. Hydraulic feed connects to your tractor's rear remotes — confirm your tractor has at least one set before ordering. Woodland Mills offers phone support for first-time hookup.
Woodland Mills WC88 8-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper specs at a glance
- Brand
- Woodland Mills
- Model
- WC88
- Power type
- pto
- Max branch diameter
- 8"
- Power
- PTO-driven, 35–100 HP tractor
- Feed system
- Hydraulic
- Weight
- 1054 lb
- Price (MSRP)
- $3,995
- Warranty
- 3 years
Will the WC88 fit my tractor?
The Woodland Mills WC88 8-inch Hydraulic-Feed PTO Woodchipper needs 35–100 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 | WC88 verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubota BX23S | 22 | 15 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kubota LX2610 | 25 | 19 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kubota L2501 | 24 | 19 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kubota L3301 | 33 | 26 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kubota L3901 | 37 | 30 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| 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 | Too small |
| John Deere 2025R | 25 | 19 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| John Deere 3025E | 24.7 | 19 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| John Deere 3032E | 32 | 25 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| John Deere 3039R | 38.2 | 30 | Cat 1 | At limit |
| 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 | Too small |
| Mahindra 2638 HST | 37.4 | 29 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Massey Ferguson 1735M | 35 | 28 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Massey Ferguson 2705E | 49 | 40 | Cat 2 | Fits |
| New Holland WORKMASTER 25S | 24.7 | 18 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| New Holland WORKMASTER 35 | 35 | 28 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kioti CK2620 | 24.5 | 20 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| Kioti NX4510 | 45 | 38 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| LS MT225S | 24.4 | 18 | Cat 1 | Too small |
| LS MT342 | 41.3 | 32 | Cat 1 | At limit |
“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 WC88 — and who should skip it
- Cheapest reputable 8-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper at $3,995, $100 under the Woodmaxx WM-8H
- Clamshell flywheel housing makes blade reversal and sharpening a 15-minute job instead of an awkward small-door procedure
- 8-inch throat and 23x27 inch hopper swallow crooked, forked limbs that hang up 6-inch chippers
- Self-contained hydraulic system — no tap into tractor hydraulics required
- Trailer hitch and saw mount included as standard equipment, not paid accessories
- Folds compactly for storage and transport — smallest stored footprint in the 8-inch class
- 3-year warranty matches the Woodmaxx WM-8H and is sufficient for typical homeowner volume
- Sub-35 PTO HP tractor (Kubota L2501, JD 1025R, Mahindra Emax) — buy the Woodmaxx WM-8H (30 HP minimum) or the smaller Woodland Mills WC68 instead
- Single powered top roller can spin on hard material; if you chip a lot of seasoned hardwood limbs, the Woodmaxx WM-8H's dual powered rollers are worth the $100
- Commercial or near-commercial use (50+ hours per year) — the Woodmaxx MX-8800's 7-year transferable warranty is the only category-leading coverage and worth the $2,230 premium
- You frequently feed long full-length trunks — the WC88's angled hopper is harder on long material than the WM-8H's flat table
- You want gravity-feed simplicity over hydraulic-feed convenience — the Wallenstein BX72S trades an inch of capacity for mechanical simplicity and a 5-year warranty
Alternatives to the WC88
$795 more. 6-inch capacity (2 inch smaller). mechanical feed (simpler, cheaper). 7-year warranty. from Woodmaxx.
$545 less. 6-inch capacity (2 inch smaller).
$2,230 more. same 8-inch capacity. 7-year warranty. from Woodmaxx.
WC88accessories & add-ons
Set of 2 replacement chipper knives for the WC88. Available from woodlandmills.com.
Custom-fit cover for the WC88. Heavy-duty UV and water resistant.
Replacement hydraulic feed hoses for the WC88. Inspect annually.
Replacement PTO shaft shear pins.
Upgraded PTO shaft for steep 3-point geometry on larger tractors.
iMatch-compatible adapter for fast 3-point hookup.
WC88blade replacement & sharpening
Four reversible flywheel knives on the 8-inch disc — balancing is critical given the heavier flywheel and higher RPM mass.
The hydraulic feed will keep pulling material into dull blades; schedule sharpening on run hours (30–50) rather than waiting for symptoms.
Woodland Mills sells complete blade kits including fresh bolts — use them, don't reuse stretched hardware.
- 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
- $200–$290
- Sharpening interval
- 30–50 hours
- Bolt torque
- 55–65 ft-lb
- 01Stop the machine and isolate power
Disengage the PTO, shut the tractor off, and remove the key. Wait 60+ seconds for the WC88 flywheel to stop completely — it coasts longer than the engine.
- 02Open the discharge or flywheel access cover
Remove the bolts on the WC88 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 WC88 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 WC88'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 55–65 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.
WC88 — frequently asked questions
- Woodland Mills WC88 or Woodmaxx WM-8H?
- At $3,995 vs $4,095 with matching 3-year warranties, the WC88 is the cheaper buy and has a much better blade-access design (clamshell housing vs small inspection doors). The WM-8H wins on dual powered hydraulic rollers (more aggressive grip on crooked material), a 30 PTO HP minimum (vs 35 on the WC88), and a flat infeed table for long trunks. For most 40+ PTO HP tractors chipping typical brush, the WC88 is the better value. For sub-35 PTO HP tractors or buyers who deal with lots of forked yard-tree limbs, the WM-8H is worth the $100 premium.
- Will the WC88 work on a 30 HP tractor?
- No — Woodland Mills specs a 35 PTO HP minimum, which typically means a 40+ rated engine HP tractor since PTO HP runs 10-15% below engine HP. A Kubota L2501 (24 PTO HP), JD 1025R, or similar sub-compact will not turn the WC88 reliably. Owners on Kubota LX2610/LX3310 (~24-27 PTO HP) report it works at reduced feed rates on smaller material but is not within spec. For sub-30 PTO HP tractors, the Woodmaxx WM-8H (30 HP minimum) or the smaller Woodland Mills WC68 are better fits.
- Can the WC88 actually chip 8-inch hardwood?
- Yes, with caveats. Woodland Mills states full 8-inch capacity at full feed speed requires 60+ PTO HP. On a 35-50 PTO HP tractor you can chip 8-inch softwood and lighter hardwoods at reduced feed rate, but seasoned 8-inch oak, hickory, or hard maple will require slow back-and-forth feeding. The real-world value of the 8-inch throat on a smaller tractor isn't maximum diameter — it's clearance for crooked and forked limbs that measure 6-7 inches across the wide point.
- What's the most common issue WC88 owners report?
- The single powered top infeed roller occasionally spins on hard material without pulling it through. This is documented across TractorByNet, OrangeTractorTalks, and the Woodland Mills owner Facebook group. The fix is straightforward: adjust the two spring eye bolts on the roller-down-pressure assembly to achieve 1/4-inch deflection per the manual, which increases grip. Owners who keep up with this adjustment rarely complain. The Woodmaxx WM-8H's dual-roller design avoids this scenario entirely, which is part of why it commands a $100 premium.
- Is the 3-year warranty really enough?
- For homeowner use, yes — 3 years covers the break-in failure window where hydraulic seals, valves, and roller bearings typically fail if they're going to. After year 3 the chipper is largely a mechanical-wear-parts problem (blades, belts, anvil), all of which are inexpensive consumables. If you're using the chipper for commercial or near-commercial volume (50+ hours per year), the Woodmaxx MX-8800's 7-year transferable warranty is the only meaningful upgrade in this category and is worth its $2,230 premium.
- How does the WC88 compare to the Wallenstein BX72S?
- Different machines for different buyers. The BX72S is a 7-inch gravity-feed (no hydraulic complexity), 50-85 HP, 5-year warranty, $7,840. It's quieter, simpler to maintain, and tends to outlast hydraulic-feed chippers — but it's $3,845 more than the WC88 and gives up an inch of capacity. Pick the BX72S if you value mechanical simplicity and long service life over price. Pick the WC88 if you want hydraulic feed for crooked material and the lowest price in the 8-inch category.
- What are the common problems with the WC88?
- 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.
- WC88 vs woodmaxx mx-8800 — which should I buy?
- See our head-to-head comparison for the detailed breakdown. In short: the WC88 at $3,995 offers 8-inch capacity with hydraulic feed. The right pick depends on your tractor HP, branch size, and whether you need hydraulic feed for forked material.
- WC88 vs wc68 worth the upgrade — which should I buy?
- See our head-to-head comparison for the detailed breakdown. In short: the WC88 at $3,995 offers 8-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 WC88?
- The WC88 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 hard is the WC88 to assemble?
- The WC88 ships approximately 90% assembled. You'll attach it to your tractor's 3-point hitch, lower the infeed bin, raise the discharge chute, size and attach the PTO shaft (included), and fill the hydraulic reservoir with ISO-46 fluid. Typical setup time: 30–60 minutes with basic tools.
- How much HP do I need to run the WC88?
- The WC88 needs 35–100 PTO HP. That's PTO horsepower (roughly 85–90% of engine HP). A 40 HP engine tractor produces about 35 PTO HP. Comfortable range: 44–90 PTO HP.
- What warranty does the WC88 come with?
- Woodland Mills covers the WC88 with a 3-year warranty. Covers manufacturing defects; excludes wearing parts and cosmetic damage.
- What can the WC88 actually chip in real-world use?
- Rated for 8-inch branches. In practice, green softwood chips reliably at rated max. Seasoned hardwood at 8 inches slows the feed rate and bogs the flywheel on knots — comfortable working capacity on hardwood is 6.5–7.5 inches. The hydraulic feed handles forked and crooked material well.