Abstract: An improved hitch adapter for connecting an implement to a tractor drawbar including an adapter bar having a hitch member extending rearwardly of the drawbar, a spring locking bar disposed on the adapter bar, and a lower support member having a bolt attached thereto and extending upwardly through the drawbar, adapter bar, and locking bar, a second bolt socketted in the lower support member and extending through the drawbar, adapter bar, and locking bar. When the nut on the first bolt is made finger tight, the nut on the second bolt may be torqued using a single wrench simultaneously tensioning the first bolt to lock the adapter bar on the drawbar.

Abstract: A mower conditioner which is attached to its mobile carrying frame by an upper link and two laterally spaced lower swing links, is provided with a lateral floatation lockout device in the form of a torque transmitting bar selectively rigidly attached at each end to the lower swing links coaxially with the pivotal connection of the latter to the laterally elongated crop harvesting header.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a basic processing unit of the type having a cutterhead, a plurality of opposed crop infeed rolls disposed forwardly thereof and a feed roll housing having transversely spaced side walls and a forward opening, and a pair of throat sheet members mounted on the basic processing unit for swinging relative to the housing and disposed adjacent the opening on each side, the sheets extending laterally outwardly from inner rearwardly turned ends inwardly adjacent the side walls to outward ends spaced from the sidewalls; and a crop feeding unit detachably mounted for vertical articulation to said basic unit and having a rear opening in confronting relationship to the sheets such that the sheets close off the portion of the discharge opening external of the feed throat.

Abstract: A hay conditioning roll is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced ribs extending across the axial length of the roll, the ribs having a slope relative to the axis of the roll reversing from positive to negative at least once. The configuration of the ribs such that the absolute value of the slope gradually decreases to zero, passes therethrough, and gradually increases upon approaching and passing the point of reversal, the rib configuration preferably being sinusoidal. A roll is adapted to run on a parallelly disposed roll of similar configuration reversed end for end, the ribs of one roll intermeshing with the grooves of the adjacent roll.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for controlling a gathering unit mounted on a forage harvester for vertical articulative movement about a transverse axis thereon, the control apparatus including a main lever pivotally mounted on the forage harvester frame and operatively attached by a tension apparatus to the gathering unit, a lifting apparatus interconnecting the frame and main lever through a lost motion connection for selectively engaging the main lever to lift the gathering unit, a floatation spring lever having a first pivotal connection and a second detachable connection with the main lever, and a floatation spring assembly interconnecting the spring lever and the frame, the floatation spring assembly counterbalancing a portion of the weight of the gathering unit when the detachable connection between the spring lever and the main lever is attached and being ineffective when the detachable connection is detached.

Abstract: Gathering unit attaching apparatus is provided for a forage harvester of the type having a basic processing unit and a crop gathering unit which articulates in a vertical plane relative thereto. The attaching apparatus includes an attaching yoke pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis provided on the basic unit in proximity of the feed rolls. The attaching yoke provides a movable auxiliary axis about which the gathering unit pivots during the attaching process and securing elements for locking the gathering unit to the yoke for field operation. Apparatus is provided on the basic unit for pivoting the yoke about the fixed axis between a lowered generally forwardly extending pickup position and raised operating and transport positions.