A method of dimensioning a suspension of an agricultural harvesting pickup apparatus on a baler determined to move in a harvesting direction on a field and to a baler operated according to a method of responding to obstacles encountered by an agricultural harvesting pickup apparatus.A method of responding to obstacles (O) encountered by a harvesting pickup apparatus (24) that moves in the harvesting direction, the method including the steps of driving a pickup reel (26), pivoting at least one structural member (32), and positioning a path of a continuous loop device (36). The pickup reel (26) is driven with a continuous loop device (36) about a first axis (30). The at least one structural member (32) pivots about a second axis (34), the pickup reel (26) being supported by the structural member (32). A path of the continuous loop device (36) is positioned so, that a tight side (38) of the continuous loop device (36) is located in the harvesting direction from both the first axis (30) and the second axis (34). The harvesting pickup apparatus (24) is so configured, that the structural member (32) is pivoted about the second axis (34) in a generally upward direction when the harvesting pickup apparatus (24) encounters an obstacle (O).
