Abstract: A tag axle assembly for an agricultural machine, such as a harvester, and method for redistributing weight of the harvester from the rear axle of the harvester when a header is removed, or when replaced by a lighter header, at the front of the harvester. The tag axle assembly includes a tag axle with tires that may be lowered so that the tires contact the ground when no header is attached to the machine to absorb loads transferred from the front of the harvester to the rear axle and rear tires at the rear of the harvester. The tag axle and tires may be raised up from the ground, or the tag axle assembly may be removed from the harvester, when a header is attached to the front of the harvester causing redistribution of load from off the rear axle and rear tires.

Abstract: A safety stand is provided for minimizing the effect of hydraulic failure in an agricultural harvester. The safety stand has a series of notches along a longitudinal edge of the safety stand which are designed to accept and received a protrusion affixed to a cylinder of a hydraulic cylinder which raises and lowers a feeder arm. When the feeder arm is raised, the hydraulic cylinder is in the full upright position, the safety stand can be lowered such that the protrusion enters and is held within a notch to prevent accidental downward movement of the feeder arm. If the notch fails, or the safety stand is not properly engaged, the longitudinal edge of the safety arm is allowed to follow the protrusion, until a subsequent notch is reached, which then engages the protrusion, safely stopping the downward path of the feeder arm.

Abstract: A tag axle assembly for an agricultural machine, such as a harvester, and method for redistributing weight of the harvester from the rear axle of the harvester when a header is removed, or when replaced by a lighter header, at the front of the harvester. The tag axle assembly includes a tag axle with tires that may be lowered so that the tires contact the ground when no header is attached to the machine to absorb loads transferred from the front of the harvester to the rear axle and rear tires at the rear of the harvester. The tag axle and tires may be raised up from the ground, or the tag axle assembly may be removed from the harvester, when a header is attached to the front of the harvester causing redistribution of load from off the rear axle and rear tires.

Abstract: A safety stand for minimizing the effect of hydraulic failure in an agricultural harvester is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for raising or lowering a pivotable safety stand is provided which may take the form of a remotely operated hydraulic safety stand. In another embodiment, the mechanical stop provides multiple stops along the length of travel of the piston to prevent the dramatic falling of the feeder arm under the force of gravity. In one embodiment, the safety stand is provided with a series of notches along a longitudinal edge of the safety stand which are designed to accept and received a protrusion affixed to a cylinder of a hydraulic cylinder which raises and lowers a feeder arm. When the feeder arm is raised, the hydraulic cylinder is in the full upright position, the safety stand can be lowered such that the protrusion enters and is held within a notch to prevent accidental downward movement of the feeder arm.