Abstract: A side-pull mower-conditioner includes a wheeled frame from which a crop harvesting header is suspended. A draft tongue carrier forms a forward projection of the frame and terminates at a forward end located above the header. A draft tongue includes a rear end pivotally coupled to the forward end of the draft tongue carrier by an upright pivot pin defining an upright pivot axis about which the tongue can be swung between a rightmost transport position and a leftmost working position. An extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator is located leftward of the upright pivot axis and is coupled between the draft tongue carrier and the draft tongue and is fully extended when the draft tongue is in the transport position, and is fully retracted when the tongue is in the leftmost working position.