Bill Carroll ready to sow with his Genesis 8870 pulling a trailed Väderstad drill. Each Genesis tractor has a specific job on the farm: two are for ploughing only, pulling two six-sod Kverneland reversible ploughs; one pulls a trailed fertiliser spreader full-time; others are for rolling, subsoiling and doing trailer work; while another is on a big Hesston square baler. There is very little crossover in jobs in the fleet making for quick switchovers during busy times on the farm.
Bill and David Carroll in front of their terracotta-coloured New Holland Genesis tractors. Both tractors are permanently attached to two six-sod Kverneland reversible ploughs. There is no difference between the blue- and terracotta-coloured tractors in design or set up.
One of David's pet projects and a 50th birthday present to himself was this Genesis 8870 – picked up on his travels – which came in four parts on two lowloaders and needed complete refurbishment! This was very much a winter project when things were quieter.
The front wheels and engine arriving on the low loader. These, along with everything else, needed a complete overhaul. David’s well-equipped workshop carried all the tools necessary to complete the painstaking work.
The rear-wheel transmission, which had to be completely re-done, and original front weights came separately on a low loader. David described it as a bit of a Meccano job, but he is glad he stuck with it.
David getting to grips with a bearing from one of the Genesis tractors. The lads joke that Bill is the driver and David is the fixer in the enterprise!
And finally, after months of preparation, overhauling, rebuilding, carrying out delicate electrical work and a complete respray, life was put back into another Genesis to live long and prosper in the ever-growing Carroll tractor fleet. When time allows, Bill and David service and maintain tractors for other Genesis followers. The day I was on the farm, he and Bill were knee-deep in a complete refurb job for a customer from south of the country.