Based on the cutting and conveying method of the vertical rape windrower, a 4SYT-0.8 self-propelled rape bolt harvester was developed, which is mainly composed of chassis, vertical header and lifting device of header. The operation parameters such as linear velocity of the transverse conveying chain and the cutting linear velocity of the cutter were matched with the forward speed of the vertical header. The cutting height of the cutter could be adjusted according to the cutting height requirements of rape bolt. The test of prototype was carried out in 2 rows of each ridge rape bolt planting fields with the ridge width of 60 cm, the row spacing of 40 cm and the average planting density of 398 200 plants/hm2. The results showed that the leakage cutting rate was 0.8% and the conveying loss rate was 1.3%, when the driving speed was 0.8 m/s, the linear velocity of the transverse conveying chain was 1.12 m/s and the cutting linear velocity of the cutter was 0.96 m/s. The operation quality could meet the operation requirements.