Multi-position linkage and locking mechanism for a crop residue spreader and/or chopper

An agricultural combine, comprising:

• a threshing mechanism for separating crops from plants harvested by the combine, including apparatus for driving a flow of straw and plant residue along a predetermined path;
• a cleaning mechanism for receiving the crops from the threshing mechanism and removing grain from remaining chaff of the crops and discharging a flow of the chaff along a predetermined path;
• and
• a residue spreader including a housing having at least one inlet opening, at least one discharge opening generally opposite the at least one inlet opening, and a rotor rotatable in proximity to the inlet and discharge openings such that straw and other residue entering the housing through the at least one inlet opening will be propelled by the rotor through the at least one discharge opening, and a linkage arrangement movably connecting the spreader to the combine and supporting the spreader, the linkage arrangement being pivotable relative to the combine to allow the spreader to be moved between at least one position in relation to the combine for simultaneously receiving the flow of straw and plant residue from the threshing mechanism and the flow of chaff from the cleaning mechanism through the at least one inlet opening, at least one position for receiving the flow of chaff from the cleaning mechanism of the harvesting machine through the at least one inlet opening while allowing the flow of straw and plant residue from the threshing mechanism to bypass the spreader, and at least one position a predetermined distance from the cleaning mechanism defining a space therebetween to allow an operator to access the cleaning mechanism through the space.