Abstract

A crop residue spreader for a combine harvester is pivotally mounted to the combine for rotation about a transverse axis. The spreader has a spreading position in which crop residue is spread over a wide area at the rear of the combine. The spreader is rotatable about the transverse axis to a raised windrowing position to allow the residue to fall to the ground in a windrow for later collection. The disks of the spreader are covered by shrouds above and to the sides to reduce the upward dispersal of the residue. Gas assist cylinders are provided to lift the spreader to the windrow position after which a latch is engaged to hold the spreader there. A hold down latch operates to hold the spreader in the spreading position in opposition to the gas assist cylinders.