Find the Serial Number, Year and Model on Your Case Equipment

The Case PIN plate sits in one of three places depending on machine type, and most operators check the dash first when it is actually on the frame rail. On Case backhoes and tractors, look at the left side of the dash inside the cab or the left frame rail near the door jamb. On wheel loaders, check under the operator's cab or the frame near the lift arm base. That number determines which parts fit.

Quick Facts

• Where to look first: left frame rail or left dash on backhoes and tractors, frame near the lift arm base on wheel loaders
• What the PIN controls: exact parts fitment, since Case changes components mid-production by build sequence
• Year decode: position 10 of a 17-character PIN gives the model year
• Older machines: 10-digit PINs do not carry the year as a single character and must be matched to a production chart
• Backup location: stamped vertically into the engine block if the plate is gone

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Case Backhoe Loader?

Backhoe loaders are the most common Case machine in the field, and they carry the PIN in more than one spot. Check these in order.

• Left side of the dash, inside the cab. Usually a riveted metal plate or a printed decal at the base of the dash panel near the operator's seat.
• Left frame rail near the door jamb. Step up into the cab and look down at the frame. On many 580 series machines the number is stamped directly into the steel here.
• Loader tower area. Some builds carry a second stamping near the loader arm mount.

If the cab has been repainted, the frame stamping usually survives when the decal does not. Run your fingers across the frame rail if you cannot see it. Stamped characters are readable by touch long after paint has covered them.

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Case Skid Steer or Compact Track Loader?

Case skid steers and compact track loaders in the SR, SV, TR and TV series carry the plate on the chassis rather than in the cab.

• Inside the operator compartment, on the right side panel behind or beside the seat.
• On the lift arm tower or chassis frame, stamped into the structure on the right side of the machine.
• Under the rear door, near the engine compartment on some builds.

The model designation on these machines carries useful information on its own. In the Case skid steer range, SR indicates a radial lift path and SV indicates vertical lift, while TR and TV are the tracked equivalents. The number that follows is the rated operating capacity in pounds. An SR250 is a radial lift skid steer rated at 2,500 lbs, and a TV380 is a vertical lift compact track loader rated at 3,800 lbs. Knowing which lift path your machine uses narrows parts selection before you ever open the catalog.

Where Is the Serial Number Plate on a Case Wheel Loader or Excavator?

On wheel loaders, the plate is typically on the left side of the machine under the operator's cab, or on the frame near the base of the lift arm. On excavators, check the upper structure near the cab door and the front frame area.

Both machine types also carry a separate engine identification. Case engines are stamped vertically directly into the block, or carry a small attached nameplate near the valve cover. That engine number is not the machine PIN and the two are not interchangeable when ordering.

What Does the Case PIN Actually Mean?

Case uses the term PIN, for Product Identification Number, where automotive manufacturers use VIN. On modern Case Construction and Case IH machines the PIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code built to the ISO 3779 standard, and each block of characters carries specific information.

Position	What it identifies
1 to 3	World Manufacturer Identifier, which identifies the maker and country of build
4 to 8	Machine descriptor: model family, capacity class, and configuration
9	Check digit used to validate the rest of the number
10	Model year
11	Assembly plant
12 to 17	Production sequence number for the individual machine

One caution worth stating plainly: PIN format varies by equipment type and by region. The structure above holds for machines carrying a full 17-character PIN, and it is the format you will find on most current Case construction equipment. It is not a guarantee for every machine Case has ever built.

How Do I Decode the Year From My Case Serial Number?

If your Case PIN is 17 characters long, the 10th character gives you the model year. This follows the ISO 3779 standard, which is why the same table works across most major equipment manufacturers.

10th Character	Model Year	10th Character	Model Year
A	2010	L	2020
B	2011	M	2021
C	2012	N	2022
D	2013	P	2023
E	2014	R	2024
F	2015	S	2025
G	2016	T	2026
H	2017
J	2018
K	2019

The letters I, O and Q never appear in this position because they are too easily confused with the numerals 1 and 0. Years 2001 through 2009 use the numerals 1 through 9, and 2000 uses Y.

There is a catch worth knowing. The ISO year cycle repeats every 30 years. A machine built in 1996 and a machine built in 2026 can carry the same character in position 10. In practice this is easy to resolve, because a 30-year gap in machine generation is obvious from the model designation and the machine itself. It is worth checking rather than assuming when you are working from paperwork alone.

What if my Case PIN is only 10 digits?

Many older Case machines carry a 10-digit PIN instead. On these, the build year is not encoded as a single character. There is no position you can read to get the year. The year is confirmed by matching the sequence portion of the number, often the last seven digits, against a Case production chart for that model.

Vintage and J.I. Case agricultural machines work the same way. Their serials are sequential production numbers, and dating them means comparing your number against published serial break lists rather than decoding it. The J.I. Case Collectors Association and the Bates Corporation serial database are the reference sources people use for this. Do not attempt to read a year out of these numbers directly, because there is not one in there to read.

What Is the Difference Between the Model Number and Serial Number?

The model number tells you what kind of machine you have. The serial number tells you which specific machine you have, and that distinction matters more than most operators expect.

• Model number: identifies the family and configuration, for example 580 Super N or SR250. Two machines can share a model number and still take different parts.
• Serial number or PIN: identifies your individual machine and its exact build position in the production run.
• Engine serial: a separate number stamped into the block. Engine components are often ordered against this rather than the machine PIN.

The reason this matters is mid-production change. Manufacturers revise components between build ranges without changing the model designation on the side of the machine. Two 580 backhoes from the same model year can take different door glass if a cab revision landed between them. The model number will not tell you which side of that change you are on. The serial number will.

How Do I Order the Right Parts Using My Case Serial Number?

Have the full PIN in front of you before you start, along with the model designation. Then work through it in this order.

1. Confirm the machine family and configuration from the model number, including lift path on skid steers and track loaders.
2. Note the build year from position 10 if you have a 17-character PIN, or from a production chart match if you have a 10-digit one.
3. Identify the part by its OEM number where you have it. Case part numbers are the most reliable way to search, because they survive catalog reorganizations that model-based searches do not.
4. Check configuration details the PIN does not carry. Cab versus canopy, door type, and glass configuration frequently need a visual confirmation.

Cab and operator station parts are where this discipline pays off most on Case machines. Based on our catalog data, glass, wiper components, mirrors and gas springs are the parts Case owners replace most often, and they are also the parts most sensitive to build variation. Door glass in particular varies by door style and by which opening it fills.

Common examples from our Case range include the Right Front Door Glass that replaces Case R52880 and the Left Upper Door Glass that replaces Case 338429A1. Both are 580 series cab parts, and both depend on knowing which door configuration your machine left the factory with. Wiper and mirror components follow the same pattern, including the 28 inch wiper blade replacing Case 87319295 and the 580 exterior mirror replacing Case R54682.

You can browse the full range on our Case parts collection, with cab glass grouped separately under Case glass. Machine-specific pages are available for Case skid steers and Case compact track loaders.

What If My Serial Number Plate Is Missing or Unreadable?

Plates go missing. They get painted over, sandblasted, replaced with the wrong one during a rebuild, or corroded past reading. You have several fallbacks.

• Check the frame stamping. Case stamps the number into the steel on many machines in addition to the plate. Paint hides it but does not remove it. Wire brush the area lightly and look at an angle.
• Check the engine block. The engine number is stamped vertically into the block or carried on a nameplate near the valve cover. It will not give you the machine PIN, but it identifies the engine for engine parts.
• Check your paperwork. Registration, insurance documents, finance agreements and the original bill of sale all carry the PIN.
• Check the operator's manual. Many owners record the number inside the front cover.
• Photograph what you can read. Even a partial number plus clear photographs of the machine and its configuration is usually enough for a parts specialist to work from.

If you are stuck, send what you have to sales@partsonline.com along with photographs of the machine and the area you need parts for. A partial serial and a clear picture of a door frame will get you further than a complete serial and no context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I look up a serial number?

Yes. On a 17-character Case PIN you can read the model year directly from position 10 and the machine descriptor from positions 4 through 8. For full parts detail, the number is entered into a Case parts catalog or given to a parts supplier who can match it to the correct build range.

What year is my Case tractor by serial number?

If the tractor carries a 17-character PIN, position 10 gives the year. Older Case and J.I. Case tractors use sequential serials that do not encode a year, so the number must be matched against a published production chart for that model instead.

How do I tell the year of a Case skid steer?

Case skid steers in the SR, SV, TR and TV series carry a 17-character PIN, so position 10 gives the model year. The plate is on the right side of the operator compartment or stamped into the lift arm tower.

How do I look up equipment by serial number?

Start by identifying the format. A 17-character number follows the ISO standard and can be partially decoded on sight. A shorter number is manufacturer-specific and generally has to be matched against a production chart or looked up by a dealer or parts supplier.

Is there a free Case serial number lookup?

The year decode on a 17-character PIN is free and you can do it yourself using the table above. Full build detail and parts breakdowns typically require the manufacturer's catalog or a parts supplier. Send your number to sales@partsonline.com and we can help identify what fits.

Where do I find the serial number on an older J.I. Case tractor?

Check the left side of the dash, the left frame rail near the door jamb, and the engine block. On vintage machines the frame stamping often outlives the plate. These serials are sequential and are dated by comparison against collector and dealer serial lists rather than by decoding.

Do I need my serial number to order Case parts?

For cab glass, wiper components and other build-sensitive parts, yes. Case revises components mid-production, so the model number alone can return parts that do not fit your specific machine. You remain responsible for verifying fitment, and we are happy to help confirm it if you send your serial number.

Getting Help With Fitment

If you have your serial number and are not certain which part matches your build, send it to sales@partsonline.com along with the model designation and photographs of the part you are replacing. Our parts specialists work with Case machines regularly and can help narrow it down before you order. For complex repairs, consult a certified mechanic.