Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper Review (2026): 6-inch Self-Feeding PTO Woodchipper
6-inch self-feeding PTO chipper sized for compact and mid-frame tractors.
WoodMaxx Patented POW-R-TORQ™ Infeed System
Manufacturer breakdown of the POW-R-TORQ hydrostatic infeed system that drives the MX-8600's self-feeding pull-through.
- Self-feeding 6-inch capacity
- 7-year warranty
- Wide HP compatibility
- No hydraulic feed — forked material can hang up
- Step up to WM/MX 8-series for forked logs
Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper specs at a glance
- Brand
- Woodmaxx
- Model
- MX-8600
- Power type
- pto
- Max branch diameter
- 6"
- Power
- PTO-driven, 25–65 HP tractor
- Feed system
- Mechanical self-feeding
- Weight
- 880 lb
- Price (MSRP)
- $3,195
- Warranty
- 7 years
Will the MX-8600 fit my tractor?
The Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper needs 25–65 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 | MX-8600 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Too small |
| New Holland WORKMASTER 35 | 35 | 28 | Cat 1 | Fits |
| 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 | 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 MX-8600 — and who should skip it
- You own a tractor with 25–65 PTO HP and a Category 1 or 2 three-point hitch.
- Your typical branches are 4–6 inches in diameter.
- You chip mostly straight material and want the simpler, more reliable self-feeding mechanism (fewer hydraulic components to service).
- You plan to keep the chipper 7+ years and value the 7-year warranty.
- You don't own a tractor. A gas-standalone chipper of comparable capacity is the right category for you.
- You regularly chip forked or crooked wood. Mechanical feed hangs up on these; consider a hydraulic-feed chipper in the same capacity tier.
MX-8600blade replacement & sharpening
Same two-knife flywheel layout as the MX-8500G+, sized up for 6-inch throat.
A8 steel is hard enough to blue easily on a belt sander — quench every 10–15 seconds and keep pressure light.
- Blade count
- 2 flywheel knives
- Bed knife
- Yes — fixed anvil
- Sharpening angle
- 30–40°
- Reversible
- Yes — doubles edge life
- Blade material
- A8 tool steel
- Replacement set
- $140–$190
- Sharpening interval
- 30–40 hours
- Bolt torque
- 45–55 ft-lb
- 01Stop the machine and isolate power
Disengage the PTO, shut the tractor off, and remove the key. Wait 60+ seconds for the MX-8600 flywheel to stop completely — it coasts longer than the engine.
- 02Open the discharge or flywheel access cover
Remove the bolts on the MX-8600 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 2 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 MX-8600 uses 2 reversible knives. If the secondary edge is still clean, simply flip the blade for a fresh edge. If both edges are worn, sharpen at 30–40° on a belt sander — quench every 10–15 seconds to avoid bluing the A8 tool steel.
- 07Balance the set
Remove equal material from every blade in the set. On the MX-8600's 2-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 45–55 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 1 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 MX-8600
- Self-feed works well on straight stock. Owners report the MX-8600 grabs clean branches aggressively, rivalling hydraulic machines on straight feeds.
- Crotches and forks will stall it. Frequent complaint: mechanical self-feed rejects forked wood, forcing the operator to pre-cut. A known limitation at the price point.
- Great value under $3.5k. Repeated theme: for homeowners who mostly chip pruned limbs, the 8600 punches above its weight versus box-store 6-inch units.
“For straight branches up to 5 inches, the self-feed is almost as fast as my neighbor's hydraulic machine. Forked wood is where it loses.”
“Had to cut every crotch off before feeding. After the tenth time I sold it and stepped up to the MX-8800. Know your wood before buying.”
“Three seasons, knives rotated once, bearings still tight. At $3,195 I do not know what else touches this. Just respect the 6-inch limit.”
“Self-feed is aggressive. If the branch grabs and you did not expect it, the tree end whips. Wear a helmet, not just glasses.”
Quotes are short excerpts used editorially with attribution. Click any source link to read the full thread.
MX-8600 — frequently asked questions
- How much tractor HP do I need for the MX-8600?
- The Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper is rated for 25–65 PTO HP. That's tractor PTO horsepower after drivetrain losses — rated engine HP is typically 10–15% higher. A 29 HP engine tractor produces roughly 25 PTO HP and would run this chipper at the minimum. The comfortable working range is 31–59 PTO HP.
- Does the MX-8600 fit a Category 1 three-point hitch?
- Yes. The MX-8600 mounts to a standard Category 1 or 2 three-point hitch and accepts a 540 RPM rear PTO shaft (included). Quick hitch compatibility varies by brand — most John Deere iMatch and Pat's Easy Change hitches accept it with a standard top-link bushing.
- What's the maximum branch diameter the MX-8600 can chip?
- The Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper is rated for branches up to 6 inches in diameter. Green and softwood branches chip reliably at the rated maximum. Seasoned hardwood at the maximum slows the feed rate and bogs the flywheel more — plan for 5-inch hardwood as your comfortable working size.
- What's the warranty on the MX-8600?
- Woodmaxx covers the MX-8600 with a 7-year warranty — this is the MX-Series warranty, the longest in the category. It covers manufacturing defects but excludes wearing parts (blades, belts, bearings under normal wear) and cosmetic damage.
- Is the MX-8600 self-feeding?
- Yes — the MX-8600 uses a gravity + mechanical self-feeding design. Infeed rollers are driven by the flywheel. Works well on clean straight branches; forked or crooked material can hang up on the rollers and need to be manually nudged through.
- How much does the MX-8600 weigh?
- The Woodmaxx MX-8600 6-inch PTO Woodchipper weighs approximately 880 lb. Check your tractor's three-point hitch lift capacity before purchase — a Category 1 tractor typically lifts 1,200–1,800 lb at the hitch pins; Category 2 lifts 2,500+ lb.
- How often do the blades on the MX-8600 need sharpening?
- For typical property use (20–40 hours per year), sharpen the MX-8600's blades once per season. Heavy hardwood use cuts that to every 15–20 hours. A full replacement set runs roughly $80–$250 depending on blade count and material. See our woodchipper blade sharpening guide for the full process.
- Where is the MX-8600 made?
- MX-8600 chippers are built with a mix of US-sourced and imported components, assembled and shipped from Woodmaxx's Akron, NY facility. The MX-Series is marketed as using upgraded US-sourced bearings and hydraulics versus the WM-Series.