A releasable locking mechanism has a lockbar which locks a hydraulic cylinder in an extended position for holding a liftarm assembly of a machine in a raised position. The lift cylinder has a body and an extendable rod which incorporates structure thereon acting upon the lockbar to release the locked hydraulic cylinder so that the liftarm assembly is moved from the raised position to a lowered position with minimal operator intervention. The operator intervention occurs only when the liftarm assembly is in the lowered position or when the lift cylinder is locked in the extended position. The lockbar is movable between an inoperative position wherein the lockbar is releasably connected to the liftarm assembly and an operative position wherein the lockbar is in bearing engagement with the body of the lift cylinder to prevent retraction of the rod. A release lever is connected to a lift cylinder and is movable between a rest position wherein the release lever is adjacent and substantially parallel with the lift cylinder and a working position wherein a notched end portion of the release lever is forced against a pin assembly releasably connected on the lockbar to lift the lockbar out of bearing engagement with the body of the lift cylinder.