John Deere 4044M · FLAIL MOWERS
This guide uses the current-linked brochure’s explicitly labeled 33.6-PTO-hp hydro configuration. The U.S. order book and older manual also publish 32.5 without naming the transmission. That unresolved difference matters at FM2560’s 33-hp threshold; FM2572 raises a separate engine-versus-PTO question. A hydraulic-offset mower also needs the 4044M’s exact loader and valve arrangement checked.
By Acreage Equipment · Reviewed November 8, 2026 · Specification research, not a field test
PUT THIS GUIDE TO WORK
See published mismatches and the checks still needed.
BEST MATCHES FOR THE 4044M
20 of 23 flail mowers we track pass the published power, hitch and speed screen. Each still has a detail to confirm with the seller.
Flail mowerLand Pride
60″ cutting width · 33–80 tractor hp · engine/PTO basis unspecified
Ask the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power.
Flail mowerLand Pride
72″ cutting width · 42–80 tractor hp · engine/PTO basis unspecified
Ask the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power.
Flail mowerWoodMaxx
70″ cutting width, inches · 30–65 PTO hp · Hammer blades only
Resolve the conflicting published specifications for the exact model revision.
Flail mowerWoodMaxx
70″ cutting width, inches · 30–65 PTO hp · Hammer blades only
Confirm rear remotes, hydraulic flow and pressure requirements.
Flail mowerFarmry
87″ cutting width · 30–85 HP (basis not stated) · official page and manual
Ask the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power.
Flail mowerFarmer-Helper
37″ cutting width, inches · 15–45 PTO hp on the product page; manual lists the 15-PTO-hp minimum and a 45-hp gearbox
Confirm the conflicting tractor specifications in your serial-specific manual; official source values differ.
14 more possible options in the full comparison table.
THE DECISION IN NUMBERS
33.6 is a brochure-defined hydro reference, not a verified current serial rating. The 32.5 value remains unassigned to transmission. FM25 material-capacity sources also conflict; no settled capacity advantage is claimed.
Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens.
| Mower / configuration | Published requirement | Brochure HST reference | Unresolved decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| FM2560 hammer · 60-inch cut | 33–80 tractor hp; basis unstated | 33.6 PTO is 0.6 above 33; current 43 engine label also above | Unqualified 32.5 is below 33. Resolve applicable PTO value and maker’s power basis. |
| FM2572 hammer · 72-inch cut | 42–80 tractor hp; basis unstated | 33.6 PTO below 42; 43 engine label above | Engine/PTO definition is decisive; no clearance until clarified. |
| FM78 hammer · 70-inch fixed placement | 30–65 PTO hp | 3.6 hp above minimum | Unqualified 32.5 would also clear 30; geometry and complete load remain open. |
| FM78H hammer · 70-inch hydraulic shift | 30–65 PTO hp plus rear hydraulic circuit | Same 3.6-hp margin | Loader model changes the listed rear-valve kit path; confirm installed equipment. |
| FM2584 hammer · 84-inch cut | 49–80 tractor hp; basis unstated | Both 33.6 PTO and 43 engine label below 49 | Outside the minimum under either stated basis. |
The brochure’s hydro row gives 33.6 PTO hp, only 0.6 above FM2560’s 33 minimum. The book’s 32.5 and older manual’s 32.5 are not transmission-qualified, so they cannot simply replace it as an HST specification. Land Pride also does not identify whether its tractor-hp band means engine or PTO. For FM2560, resolve both the applicable Deere value and Land Pride’s basis. FM2572’s 42 minimum is above the hydro PTO reference but below the rounded 43-hp engine label. A nominal 4044M model name cannot answer either question.
For MY24-and-newer applications, Deere’s order book distinguishes BXX11043 for H180/440R or no loader from BXX11044 for D170/400E. It also lists different oil lines for dual rear valves with no loader versus an H180/440R arrangement. These are evidence that a generic rear-remote promise is insufficient, not a parts recommendation for an unidentified PIN. For FM78H, have the dealer establish the installed valve arrangement and the mower’s circuit requirements. Fixed FM78 and FM25 mounting positions do not require an offset cylinder.
The current-linked brochure calls this hitch Category 1, while the older North American manual says Limited Category 1. The research does not resolve that conflict for the actual machine. Ask for pin and top-link dimensions, available lift height, quick-hitch compatibility and PTO-shaft geometry rather than assuming the bigger 4M frame removes every clearance issue. The FM2572’s Cat I/II listing is an implement mounting option, not evidence that this tractor has a Category II hitch.
Deere gives 2,500 lb at 24 inches behind the link arms and 3,130 lb at the link ends: different test locations, 630 lb apart. A flail’s center of gravity may be elsewhere. FM2560’s 965-lb and FM2572’s 1,040-lb manual references are duckfoot-equipped units; separate hammer rotor weights are not add-on totals. Confirm the complete hammer machine and chosen rake. The older manual’s 8,820-lb maximum ballasted whole-machine figure is not an attachment allowance, and its applicability must be checked before use. No payload subtraction or ballast amount is calculated here.
Farmry rates the HFS87 at 30–85 hp without saying whether that is PTO or engine power, lists Category I and II, cuts 87 inches and weighs 1,299 lb with the shaft. The John Deere 4044M’s 33.6 PTO hp and 43 engine hp are both inside that range, so the basis does not change the result. Its published lift at 24 inches, 2,500 lb, carries that weight with 1,201 lb to spare; check front ballast all the same. Its gearbox rating, 50 hp, is not below this tractor’s PTO power. The 87-inch cut is 3 inches wider than Land Pride’s FM2584. Farmry’s page listed it at $4,499 on November 14, 2026.
Farmer-Helper rates its standard-duty FH-EF mowers by PTO power, all to 45 PTO hp with a 45-hp gearbox: the EF95 (37-inch cut) from 15, the EF105 (41-inch) from 16 and the EF125 (48-inch) from 20. They carry Y-blades for grass and light brush. The John Deere 4044M’s 33.6 PTO hp is inside all three. Its published lift at 24 inches, 2,500 lb, carries even the 390-lb EF125 with 2,110 lb to spare. Betstco listed them at $1,462, $1,547 and $1,632 on November 14, 2026, with the PTO shaft included.
THE SCREEN, WITH ITS LIMITS VISIBLE
No pairing below is manufacturer-confirmed. “Preliminary” still requires implement limits, load center, ballast, hitch geometry and shaft checks.
Initial specification screen only. Scroll the table on small screens. Read the product page for every remaining check.
| Attachment | U.S.-linked brochure HST scope · 031ALV / eHydro 1520 reference · 4WD · open station33.6 PTO hp |
|---|---|
| Farmry LFS45 →355 lb · Net weight WITH PTO shaft, current LFS manual Rev 1.7 p18 | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Farmry LFS53 →395 lb · Net weight WITH PTO shaft, current LFS manual Rev 1.7 p18 | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Farmry LFS61 →421 lb · Net weight WITH PTO shaft, current LFS manual Rev 1.7 p18 | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| TMG Industrial TMG-TFM60 →650 lb · Product-page operation weight; manual gives conflicting 270 kg (about 595 lb) | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Farmry LFP47 →464 lb · 464 lb including PTO shaft on the product page; current Rev 1.3 manual lists 210 kg / 463.7 lb. Shipping weight is a separate 671 lb. | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| TMG Industrial TFMS50 →660 lb · Product-page operation weight: 660 lb. Manual structure weight: 300 kg (about 661 lb); shaft and fluid inclusion are not explicit. Shipping weight: 770 lb. | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| WoodMaxx FM-54 · Y-blades →408 lb · Current 2025-and-newer manual p40 lists 408 lb product weight without stating shaft inclusion. Page instead says 410 lb mower-only plus a 39 lb shaft. Do not treat 408 lb as a verified complete operating assembly; confirm delivered Y-blade weight. Shipping page figure is 500 lb. | Published mismatch33.6 PTO hp exceeds the published 25 hp range. |
| WoodMaxx FM-62H · Hammer blades →860 lb · Current 2025-and-newer manual, printed p40 / PDF p41: 860 lb product weight; shaft/oil/packaging inclusion is unstated. Page instead lists 716 lb mower-only plus a 39 lb shaft. Shipping is separately labeled 860 lb. Do not treat the manual number as verified complete operating weight; confirm delivered hammer assembly. | Needs specification reviewConfirm rear remotes, hydraulic flow and pressure requirements. |
| WoodMaxx FM-78H · Hammer blades →968 lb · Current 2025-and-newer manual, printed p40 / PDF p41: 968 lb product weight; shaft/oil/packaging inclusion is unstated. Page instead lists 804 lb mower-only plus a 39 lb shaft. Shipping is separately labeled 1000 lb. Do not treat the manual number as verified complete operating weight; confirm delivered hammer assembly. | Needs specification reviewConfirm rear remotes, hydraulic flow and pressure requirements. |
| WoodMaxx FM-62 · Hammer blades →774 lb · Current 2025-and-newer manual printed p40 / PDF p41 lists 774 lb product weight without shaft/oil/packaging inclusion. Page lists 641 lb mower-only plus a 39 lb shaft; shipping is separately labeled 800 lb. Retain these distinct bases and confirm complete operating weight for the delivered hammer assembly. | Needs specification reviewResolve the conflicting published specifications for the exact model revision. |
| WoodMaxx FM-78 · Hammer blades →880 lb · Current 2025-and-newer manual printed p40 / PDF p41 lists 880 lb product weight without shaft/oil/packaging inclusion. Page lists 710 lb mower-only plus a 39 lb shaft; shipping is separately labeled 900 lb. Retain these distinct bases and confirm complete operating weight for the delivered hammer assembly. | Needs specification reviewResolve the conflicting published specifications for the exact model revision. |
| Farmer-Helper FH-EFGC125 · Hammer blades →Operating weight unconfirmed · Complete operating weight is unverified. Current page: 576 lb “Weight” and 624 lb “Crated Weight.” Linked Rev 12-12-17 manual p23: 600 lb “Weight” and 635 lb crated. Product-weight shaft/oil/assembly inclusions are unstated. Keep these separate; do not use crate weight or silently choose one product figure as an operating load. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the complete operating weight; a shipping weight cannot establish the attachment load. |
| Farmer-Helper FH-EFGC155 · Hammer blades →Operating weight unconfirmed · Complete operating weight is unverified. Current page: 741 lb “Weight” and 789 lb “Crated Weight.” Linked Rev 12-12-17 manual p23: 720 lb “Weight” and 755 lb crated. Product-weight shaft/oil/assembly inclusions are unstated. Keep these separate; do not use crate weight or silently choose one product figure as an operating load. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the complete operating weight; a shipping weight cannot establish the attachment load. |
| WoodMaxx FM-62 · Y-blades →Operating weight unconfirmed · Complete Y-configuration operating weight is unverified. Current manual p40 gives 774 lb generic product weight without shaft/oil or blade-specific inclusion. Page gives 641 lb mower-only plus 39 lb shaft and separately 800 lb shipping. These bases conflict or lack scope; none substitutes for an assembled Y operating load. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the complete operating weight; a shipping weight cannot establish the attachment load. |
| WoodMaxx FM-78 · Y-blades →Operating weight unconfirmed · Complete Y-configuration operating weight is unverified. Current manual p40 gives 880 lb generic product weight without shaft/oil or blade-specific inclusion. Page gives 710 lb mower-only plus 39 lb shaft and separately 900 lb shipping. These bases conflict or lack scope; none substitutes for an assembled Y operating load. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the complete operating weight; a shipping weight cannot establish the attachment load. |
| Land Pride FM2560 · hammer rotor →Operating weight unconfirmed · Manual p39 specifies 965 lb for the standard unit with a duckfoot rotor; the brochure lists 929 lb without a rotor/inclusion basis. The separate hammer-rotor assembly is 222 lb. No complete hammer operating mass or shipping mass is established. Do not add the rotor to an already rotor-inclusive unit weight or substitute these references for the operating load. | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Land Pride FM2572 · hammer rotor →Operating weight unconfirmed · Manual p39 specifies 1,040 lb for the standard unit with a duckfoot rotor; the brochure lists 1,040 lb without a rotor/inclusion basis. The separate hammer-rotor assembly is 261 lb. No complete hammer operating mass or shipping mass is established. Do not add the rotor to an already rotor-inclusive unit weight or substitute these references for the operating load. | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Land Pride FM2584 · hammer rotor →Operating weight unconfirmed · Manual p39 specifies 1,236 lb for the standard unit with a duckfoot rotor; the brochure lists 1,168 lb without a rotor/inclusion basis. The separate hammer-rotor assembly is 301 lb. No complete hammer operating mass or shipping mass is established. Do not add the rotor to an already rotor-inclusive unit weight or substitute these references for the operating load. | Published mismatchBoth engine (43) and PTO (33.6) horsepower are below the published 49 hp minimum. |
| Blue Diamond Heavy Duty 403740 →1763 lb · 1,763 lb (800 kg) in the Aug-2025 spec sheet (without PTO) and the Feb-2026 manual p49. Add the PTO shaft for the operating load. | Published mismatchBoth engine (43) and PTO (33.6) horsepower are below the published 75 hp minimum. |
| Farmry HFS87 →1299 lb · 1,299 lb (589 kg) including PTO shaft on the product page and in the HFS manual Rev 1.6, printed p17. | Needs specification reviewAsk the manufacturer whether the horsepower range means engine or PTO power. |
| Farmer-Helper FH-EF95 →330 lb · 330 lb retained, the heavier of the product page (325 lb) and the FH-EF manual p13 (330 lb); crated 360 lb. Neither says whether the included PTO shaft is counted. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the conflicting tractor specifications in your serial-specific manual; official source values differ. |
| Farmer-Helper FH-EF105 →347 lb · 347 lb retained, the heavier of the product page (342 lb) and the FH-EF manual p13 (347 lb); crated 377 lb. Neither says whether the included PTO shaft is counted. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the conflicting tractor specifications in your serial-specific manual; official source values differ. |
| Farmer-Helper FH-EF125 →390 lb · 390 lb retained, the heavier of the product page (390 lb) and the FH-EF manual p13 (383 lb); crated 438 lb. Neither says whether the included PTO shaft is counted. | Needs specification reviewConfirm the conflicting tractor specifications in your serial-specific manual; official source values differ. |
For roughly six-foot cutting, does FM2572 offer useful setup choices over fixed FM-78?
Read the guide →FIELD GUIDETake the complete setup, not just a horsepower number, to the manufacturer.
Read the guide →FOLLOW THE NUMBERS
Research record reviewed November 8, 2026. Confirm the current manual and the exact revision supplied with your machine.