Fold-up crop vegetation cutting implement

An agricultural machine adapted to be drawn in a field in an intended direction of travel by a tractor having a rear hitch and a rear power takeoff comprising, in combination:

• a frame having a rear end and a front end aligned with the intended direction of travel,;
• means for coupling the front end of the frame on the rear hitch of the tractor;
• a first wheel;
• means for rotatably mounting the first wheel on and extending below the frame at the rear end thereof for supporting the frame, said first wheel being aligned with the intended direction of travel and said mounting means including means for adjusting the distance the first wheel extends below the frame;
• a first crop severing unit for processing plant material on the field mounted on and below the frame at the rear end thereof, said first unit having a rotatable blade and a power input shaft extending generally normal to the intended direction of travel;
• a second crop severing unit for processing plant material extending from the field having opposite ends, said second unit having a rotatable blade and being pivotally mounted at one end on the frame forwardly of the first unit on an axis generally parallel to the intended direction of travel, and said second crop severing unit extending outwardly from the frame, said second unit having a power input shaft parallel to the power input shaft of the first unit;
• a second wheel;
• means for rotatably mounting the second wheel on and extending below the second unit outwardly from the frame and parallel to the first wheel for supporting the second unit including means for adjusting the distance the second wheel extends below the second unit;
• and power coupling means having a first shaft rotatably mounted on and below the frame having an end adapted to engage the tractor power takeoff, said power coupling means having a second shaft rotatably mounted on the frame generally parallel and adjacent to the rear end of the frame, said power coupling means including a gear box mounted on the frame having a rotatable input member connected to the first shaft and an output member rotatable on an axis aligned with and connected to the second shaft, means to couple the second shaft to the power input shaft of the first unit, and means to couple the second shaft to the power input shaft of the second unit.