Pitman mower

In combination with a tractor having a vertically movable implement hitch, a pitman mower comprising a transverse upstanding hitch frame attached to said tractor hitch, a drag bar parallel to said hitch frame, a transverse cutterbar including a sickle pivotally mounted to one end of said drag bar for vertical movement thereabout, pitman drive means for said sickle mounted on said drag bar and adapted to be driven by said tractor, a leaf spring resilient in the transverse direction pivotally mounted to said hitch frame for rotation about a vertical axis and rigidly mounted to said drag bar, a pull bar mounted for universal pivotal movement to said hitch frame and to said drag bar, said pull bar being rotatable about an axis generally longitudinal thereof, said pull bar comprising an outer tube connected to said hitch frame, a breakaway bar telescopingly nonrotatably engaged with said outer tube and connected to said drag bar and detent means preventing movement therebetween in the absence of a predetermined load, a gag link interconnecting said breakaway bar with said cutterbar, the weight of said cutterbar acting through said gag link to exert a torque on said pull bar, floatation spring means connected to said outer tube of said pull bar and disposed to exert a torque on said pull bar in opposition to said torque exerted by said cutterbar, and lifting means connected to said outer tube of said pull bar and disposed to rotate said pull bar against said torque exerted thereon by said cutterbar upon said tractor hitch being raised.