All these tractors were made the same way - from grey iron castings which form a central backbone that houses the gearbox and the final drive. A fundamental industrial process.

One feature making this tractor suitable as a "design donor" is the outboard bull gear on the drive wheels. A modern steam powerplant has a flat torque curve from stationary to its full speed of about 1500 rpm in both directions - no gear change or reverse gear is required. That torque is substantially higher than the equivilent HP petrol or diesel, and well able to break things that are not substantial enough for the task.



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The venerable Volvo T22 is still seen on many farms in Sweden. The Swedish equivelent to the Fordson and the Ferguson - a basic workhorse that just keeps on going. The old standby the farmer pats affectionately on the bonnet while explaining it has been "going strong for 50 years and will last another 50"
The bull gears serve to keep the differential size manageable for the torque and the combined reduction of the diff/bull gears is about right for the engine to wheel reduction required. The elimination of the clutch and the gearbox, combined with the compact and lightweight engine, allows the use of almost identical front and rear drive assemblies when configured for  4-wheel drive centre steered.