Windrow pickup mechanism

In a harvester having a forward harvesting platform and a pickup mechanism mounted on the front of the platform and including a frame having opposite vertically shiftable sides respectively supported on ground engaging gauge wheels so that the opposite sides shift vertically relative to one another as the gauge wheels move over uneven terrain, and a pickup belt extending between the opposite sides and having a rearwardly moving upper run operative to convey crop material lifted from the ground rearwardly to the platform, the combination therewith of an improved hold-down mechanism mounted on the pickup mechanism above the upper run of the belt for controlling the top of the mat of crop material on the belt and comprising:

• a pair of generally upright support members;
• mounting means respectively mounting the lower ends of the support members to the opposite sides;
• a transverse tubular member extending between the support members;
• a plurality of fingers mounted on and extending rearwardly from the tubular member in cantilever fashion;
• a pair of pivot means respectively connecting the opposite ends of the tubular member to the upper ends of the respective support members for free rotation of the tubular member relative to the support during operation of the machine and including means for accommodating axial misalignment between the pivot means during vertical shifting of one side relative to the other;
• and stop means operative between the tubular member and at least one of the support members to limit rotation of the tubular member in a direction wherein the fingers swing downwardly to establish a minimum clearance between the fingers and the belt.