Abstract: A latch mechanism is used with agricultural equipment, such as a mower, for securing the header of the mower to the tongue during transport. A pivoting catch is mounted on the trail frame on which the header is mounted. A receiver for the catch is mounted on the tongue. During mower transport the catch is biased into engagement with the receiver by a first spring and secures the header to the tongue in a parallel orientation. When the mower configuration is changed to operational mode the catch is disengaged from the receiver using a second spring attached to the catch. A cable attaches the second spring to a wheel arm of a field wheel. Deployment of the field wheel into the operation mode draws the cable and second spring into tension, overcoming the biasing force of the first spring and pivoting the catch out of engagement with the receiver.

Abstract: In a self-propelling agricultural machine with a two-part cutting mechanism trough, the position of a cutter bar relative to a stationary part of the cutting mechanism trough is continuously determined, and a predetermined position of the reel is associated with each position of the cutter bar to prevent collision between the cutter bar and the reel.