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Combine harvester manufacturers have evolved their own designs for attaching their header equipment to the feederhouse and separator. There is no commonality between the various makes and shortline headers in the following functional areas: attachment frame size, security pins, driveshaft style and size, hydraulic drive interface, electrical interface or the Interface with transport trailers.

The objective of this paper is to critically examine the header to feederhouse interface and to propose improvements via ASAE / ISO international standards where feasible. The various designs of all manufacturers are tabulated and standardization guidelines are proposed for future consideration. The benefits of similar ASAE standards similar to those applicable to tractor PTO, 3 Point hitch, as well as tractor-to-implement standards for electrical and hydraulic interfaces are outlined.

A header interface standard will make it safer to load, secure and transport large headers on transport trailers. It will also make it easier and safer for farmers to interchange a wider variety of special headers which will eventually include the evolving bio-mass collection systems for future combines. The proposals also include guidelines for the potential evolution of up front attachment of seeding systems as well as sprayer attachments. If new standards are adopted, they should allow for different size categories, similar to the tractor 3 point category 1 through 4 ranges.