Recently, we featured the Massey Ferguson 390/390T as the most popular second-hand tractor registered in Ireland last year. This week, we look at the next most popular used tractor to be imported, the New Holland TS115.

The TS115 is perhaps the last link to the original of the Ford species with its back end sharing similar design features to the Ford 7000. The New Holland TS115 is also an iconic tractor. It was produced roughly from 1998 to 2003; some ’04 plated examples can be found. The TS115 has much to offer farmers, with good examples commanding incredible prices, some as high as €35,000.

We spoke to two Ford experts for guidance on what you need to know if buying a New Holland TS115. Paddy Lacey of Paddy Lacey Tractors from Ferns, Co Wexford, has almost 40 years of experience selling Ford and New Holland tractors. Shane Condon from Clonroche, Co Wexford, spent eight years in a New Holland dealership, Murphy’s of Glenmore, before going it alone in 2008.

40 Series replacement

It could be said that the New Holland TS series was just a partial replacement for the New Holland 40 series tractors. The 40 series evolved into the TS series. New Holland adopted a practical one-piece bonnet design. Doors became an all-glass affair, giving the TS a more modern feel. The TS’s Ford heritage was strong. The only noticeable Fiat influence was the front four-wheel-drive axle.

The Basildon-built New Holland TS115 is the only six-cylinder model in the series. It is powered by a 7.5-litre Genesis family, PowerStar engine initially developing around 100hp. An emissionised version with different fuelling system could develop 115hp but many felt that it didn’t have the ‘grunt’ of the earlier engine despite the extra power.

The engine in the TS115 was more than capable of producing extra power and the back end seemed capable of handling it. Many TS115s were retro-fitted with turbo-kits from the likes of TB-Turbo and API-Assured Performance Ireland. These produced around 135hp/140hp at the PTO and 150hp at the engine. This is considered to be the upper power limit of the tractor; second-hand versions producing more are best avoided.

Earlier versions of the TS series had a grey chassis with a blue tinwork. This evolved into a much deeper blue with a black chassis.

The later emissionised versions could also be distinguished by their fuel system. They had an electric cylindrical fuel pump fitted on top of the fuel filter assembly.

TS specifications varied from market to market. For our market, New Holland’s 24x24 DualCommand and 16x16 ElectroShift transmissions were the most popular options, sometimes known as dual-power and SLE versions. Both feature a wet-type oil-immersed clutch, which is best for loader-type operations.

The 24x24 DualCommand variant has a mechanical forward/reverse shuttle and a two-speed power shift. The higher specification ElectroShift 16x16 semi-power shift transmission has four ranges with four power-shift speeds in each plus an electric forward/reverse shuttle.

As a rule of thumb, DualCommand versions featured a standard hitch, gear type hydraulic pump and mechanical lift control plus one assister ram. ElectroShift versions featured a swing-back hitch, CCLS (closed centre load sensing) hydraulic pump, electronic lift control and two assistor rams.

Just to complicate things further, electronic lift control was available as an option on DualCommand versions. New Holland produced a ‘special’ version of the ElectroShift, with mechanical lift control.

The hydraulic pump capacity is in the region of 69 litres/minute for the tandem fixed displacement gear pump and 75 litres/minute for the CCLS pump. Lift capacity was about 5t on mechanical lift versions with a single assister ram. This rose to a little over 6.5t with two assister rams. Electronic lift control versions, with two assister rams as standard, had a lift capacity closer to 7t.

What to look out for

Always insist on seeing and starting a tractor when the engine is cold. This will give an indication of not just the engine’s condition but also the fuelling and starting system (battery, starter & alternator). At operating temperature, the tractor should not be breathing heavily. It should not be producing lots of smoke, either at idle or under load.

The TS should start up nicely and run smoothly. Early versions had old type ‘Luca’ starters, while later versions have slim high-speed units for easier starting.

Always examine service stickers or dates/hours written on filters. Water contamination in glass fuel bowls and dirty air filters is not a positive service indicator, nor are dirty or blocked radiator fins.

Look around for oil and water leaks on the engine, for which the New Holland TS115 is not particularly noted but worth checking. A rocker cover gasket or a water pump is not expensive to replace.

A persistent water leak is more of a worry. Check coolant level when cold and for a presence of coolant (should smell sweet).

Check the front axle and check steering ends, king-pins and axle pivot for wear, especially if a loader is fitted. Some steering end wear and axle pivot wear is to be expected on higher-hour tractors with loaders. Neither is overly expensive to rectify if caught in time.

The front four-wheel-drive axle should be completely dry and should actually work! A dog-clutch that is prone to wear engages four-wheel-drive. Make sure that four-wheel-drive works in both forwards and reverse.

Check oil leaks around the transmission and back end. The linkages and stabilisers should be functional and not dangerously worn. There were two hitch options, a standard pick-up hitch and a swing-back pick-up hitch.

The latter allowed the driver some visibility of the hook, but its linkages did wear. You can have the option of fitting a new Dromone hitch, if your budget allows.

Tractors with a mechanical lift control should be checked so that the hitch can be locked and released in both draft and position control. Mechanical versions are prone to losing adjustment. On electronic lift versions, a flashing orange light may indicate a lift fault.

Brakes shouldn’t be a problem with the TS series as they use a multi-disc braking system on the rear axle. Excessive pedal travel, uneven rear wheel braking or poor braking performance could indicate a potentially expensive problem on high-hour examples. Pressing the brake should also bring on four-wheel-drive to give four-wheel braking.

The TS115 has a pillar-mounted exhaust. A loose bonnet mounting can cause it to blow just above the manifold or where it comes out of the exhaust box.

It is very important to check transmission function of both DualCommand and ElectroShift versions. All speeds should be present and functional, with smooth power shift speed changes.

On high-hour models or those with a loader, check the forward/reverse shuttle function. The linkage on the DualCommand lever may wear, resulting in excessive travel and making it difficult to select direction changes. The DualCommand units also act as a clutch and if abused can warp the friction plates within. It is relatively easy to access and not overly expensive to repair.

ElectroShift versions use an electro-hydraulically operated synchromesh gear change to change between forward and reverse. These synchros can wear on high-hour or abused versions. This is a little harder to detect. Listen for a muffled or more subtle grinding noise when shuttling between directions.

Finally, it may sound obvious, but check that everything works, especially electrical controls, external lift functions, lift arm adjusters, PTO (in both speeds), stabilisers, wipers, window and door catches etc. One quirky point worth checking is the work lamp function. This can melt the fuse holder in the fuse box and this is tricky to repair.

Examples of New Holland TS115’s for sale can be seen on the Irish Farmers Journal Toplink website: www.farmersjournal.ie/toplink.