In Iran, due to growing habit of the edible bean plant and reducing harvest losses, the soybean beans are not harvested by a combine but a two-stage harvesting method is used. It was proposed that a four-wheel alfalfa mower with front-mounted cutter bar can be modified to cut and windrow the semi-runner bean plant. To uplift the plant gently from the ground, a series of sweep lifter heads were attached to the cutter bar of the mower. Each heads was designed such that its angle of approach was adjustable. The preliminary tests on the modified mower using a test rig showed that the heads could not lift and direct the plants rearward properly during cutting due to chocking. Then, a real and a frame was designed and installed above the cutter bar, and tested. The frame was designed such that the distance between the frame and the heads was adjustable. The hydraulic power system of the mower was modified such that the real was driven by a hydraulic motor. After completing the design process and the necessary changes, the machine was finally evaluated in the field. Treatments were plant cutting with/without heads and with/without reel. Tests were performed under different approach angles of the heads. The results showed that the best cutting condition was obtained with 20° approach heads while the reel was installed above the cutter bar Key words : Edible bean, bean harvesting, reel, cutter bar, header
