Günter Becker knows John Deere tractors like the back of his hand. He worked as a technical instructor in Bruchsal for nine years before retiring in 2021. If he comes across a model he doesn’t know about, he knows exactly where to get more information. This was necessary when he was asked by the Liebenzell Mission for his help with a very special project, in autumn 2023: An old 2030 LS on the organisation’s school grounds in Zambia had been in daily use to tidy up the steppe grasses, to prevent them from catching fire. This vintage model, dating from the 1970s, had been malfunctioning and been sat in the workshop for a while, because no-one locally knew how to repair the old German tractor.

A huge advantage at John Deere is the complete documentation. Even with an old tractor from the 1970s, the plans are still availble and precise.
Günter Becker
The head of the organisation, Michael Pflaum, knew Günter from previous co-operations and contacted him directly. Günter, who had provided his technical expertise on aid missions in Papua New Guinea when he was younger, accepted immediately.
Good preparation with an identical tractor
Firstly, Günter had to understand what was wrong with the tractor to fix it. The only information he had was that the transmission was apparently broken. In 1972, John Deere replaced the 20 series with the 30 series, focusing on load switch transmissions: 24 gears that can be adjusted with a 20% reduction under load without using the clutch. This was a revelation for working on rough terrain with slopes or against significant resistance. Günter first looked for a 2030 series tractor of the same make in Germany. “I first had to understand what needed to be repaired, then which spare parts and which tools I would need to do so.”


A suitable John Deere model was surprisingly easy to find. He was told that a 2030 LS, also abandoned with a transmission fault, could be found on the farm of a John Deere colleague’s cousin. The colleague, Michael Schilling, reminisces: “I drove it myself as a young man. When I heard about Günter’s search, I contacted him immediately.” Günter started work on the tractor in Germany. “A huge advantage is John Deere’s seamless documentation. Even for such an old model from the Seventies, the schematics still exist and include every detail.” He obtained the required spare parts from acquaintances via the John Deere network.


Günter, a qualified measurement engineer and control mechanic, knew exactly what needed to be done and explains: “First, I tried to understand the system as fully as possible. Which pressures would I need? Are there any weak spots and what equipment will I need?” He discovered that the German tractor had a faulty seal through which oil had escaped, causing the transmission fault.
Passionate work on the old machine in Zambia
Equipped with this knowledge and a 60kg suitcase stuffed with spare parts, measurement equipment and tools, Günter travelled to Zambia, located in the southern half of the African continent, in November 2023. When he arrived at the school, the mechanics showed him the faulty machine. Thanks to his prep work, he discovered quickly that a lack of oil had also damaged the transmission here, just like the one in Germany.
“The transmission requires a pressure of approximately 10 bar. If the oil pressure drops, the clutch drags,” he explains. “A further drop leads to friction, with the lamella bending and causing damage to the transmission. In Zambia, not knowing enough about the tractor’s system, they didn’t pay enough attention to the oil level. They also didn’t know which liquids could be added into the transmission.” This is exactly where Günter started his work. He and the mechanics worked their way through the schematics together and he explained to them in more detail how important maintenance and care are, particularly for old machines.
I want to inspire the same enthusiasm in people that I feel myself.
Günter Becker
His job is not only to carry out the repairs but also to increase comprehensive knowledge. At the end of his one-month-long stay, the mechanics should be better trained. “I really enjoy teaching people to be able to do something themselves,” he says. “I want people to have the same enthusiasm and passion for their own handiwork that I have.”
Relationships and machines need care
Understanding the local industry is important to this. Some of the largest commercial farms in Africa can be found in Zambia, with very modern machines. However, there are also a lot of smaller farmers living in poverty. . “The 10 years I spent in Papua New Guinea helped me to work in this intercultural context,” says Günter. “It does require quite a bit of sensitivity.”

He spent more than four weeks working on the 2030 LS and built some great relationships – a key aspect for the collaboration – before returning to Germany. Günter will develop these relationships even further soon: The school has a second John Deere vintage machine for mowing; a 1630 S, which also needs to be repaired. Again, Günter will look up the documentation before travelling back to Zambia to carry out the repairs. He will bring some spare parts with him in his luggage as well as ordering some locally, because it’s easy enough to find John Deere parts in Africa.
Günter is already looking forward to his next mission. “It only takes four weeks to notice the impact on the people. They improve their confidence through completing a successful project themselves. And that is one of the mantras in my life, to drive projects forward,” he says. “That has always worked really well for me with John Deere, and I’m thrilled that I can carry on this work in my retirement.”