Warning device and method

A method for indicating the locked and unlocked status of a latching mechanism to an operator of a work vehicle, the method comprising:

• (1) providing a rotatable lever having a window and a pivotally attached reciprocable link and rotatable latch, with the lever rotatable about the pivotally attached link between a first unlocked latch position, a second locked latch position and a third unlocked latch position offset from the first unlocked and second locked positions;
• (2) rotating the lever to one of the first unlocked position, the second locked position and the third unlocked position;
• and
• (3) providing a status indicator mounted on the rotatable lever and aligning the status indicator so that the status indicator is:
• (a) within the window in the rotatable lever when the latch is in the first unlocked position;
• (b) out of the window when the latch is in the second locked position;
• and
• (c) exposed other than in the window when the latch is in the third unlocked position.