Abstract: An implement, such as a baler, has a mobile frame, a forwardly extending tongue attachable at its forward end to a vehicle for towing the baler and connected at its rearward end to the frame for lateral movement relative to the frame and improved apparatus for facilitating the lateral shifting of the tongue relative to the frame. A forwardly protruding flange is disposed on the lower forward end of the bale case of the baler frame. The improved apparatus includes a wear plate which is replaceably attached to the bottom side of the bale case flange and a roller element mounted on the portion of the tongue which underlies the wear plate. The roller element maintains the wear plate in spaced relationship above the tongue while at the same time provides load-bearing rolling contact with the wear plate. The roller element is cylindrical in shape and rotatably mounted on a shaft element.

Abstract: In a draft implement having an input power driveline and a tongue adapted to be articulately connected to a tractor, an arm is pivotally mounted on the tongue and supports the driveline rearwardly of a forward telescoping assembly of the driveline which includes forward and rear universal joints. Centering tension springs extending along the tongue and interconnecting the pivotal arm and the tongue maintain the arm in a centered position in which the rear universal joint is positioned the same distance rearwardly of the tractor/implement articulate connection point as that at which the forward universal joint is positioned forwardly of the connection point. The springs will yield to allow the arm to pivot laterally to either side of the tongue to accommodate bottoming out of the telescoping assembly during sharp turns of the tractor relative to the implement. Once the tractor is re-articulated out of the sharp turn relative to the implement, the springs return the arm to its centered position.

Abstract: A baler has a mobile frame adapted to move across a field, means on said frame operable to receive and form crop material into bales, a pickup assembly including pivot means on said frame and pickup means disposed generally forwardly of and swingably mounted to the pivot means and operable to pick up crop material from the field and feed it to the receiving and forming means, and improved means to counterbalance the pickup means.