How to Determine the Year of a Case 1840 Skid Steer by PIN Number

[MikePhua]

For buyers of used equipment or maintenance personnel, knowing the manufacturing year of a machine is a crucial step. This is especially true for machines like the Case 1840 skid steer, where understanding the production year can aid in proper maintenance, parts sourcing, and other services. This article will explain how to determine the year of a Case 1840 skid steer using the PIN (Product Identification Number).
What is a PIN?
A PIN (Product Identification Number) is a unique identification number for each Case skid steer. It is similar to a vehicle's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The PIN not only helps identify the machine but also provides information about its manufacturing year, model, and configuration. For the Case 1840 skid steer, the PIN includes a series of numbers and letters, some of which can be used to determine the year of manufacture.
Where to Find the Case 1840 PIN
The PIN for the Case 1840 skid steer is typically located inside the cab, usually at one of the following locations:

1. On a metal tag near the cab.
   
2. In the operation manual or certification documents of the machine.
   
3. Near the machine's frame, particularly in the engine compartment.
   

Once you locate the PIN, you can use it to decode the machine's detailed information.
How to Determine the Production Year from the PIN
The PIN for a Case 1840 skid steer consists of 17 characters, typically divided into different sections. You can determine the production year by decoding the PIN as follows:

1. First Part of the PIN (First two characters): These characters represent the manufacturer code. For Case equipment, this is usually something like "JAK," indicating that the machine was manufactured by Case.
   
2. Second Part of the PIN (Characters 4 and 5): These characters typically represent the model number. For the Case 1840, "1840" would appear in this section, indicating the model is a Case 1840 skid steer.
   
3. Year Code: Case uses the 10th character in the PIN to indicate the production year. This could be a letter or a number, and each character corresponds to a specific year. For instance, the letter "C" may represent the year 1992, and "D" may represent 1993, and so on. By referring to Case's year code chart, you can determine the exact manufacturing year.
   

Example
Let's say you have a Case 1840 skid steer with the following PIN: "JAK1840X123456789." In this PIN, "JAK" indicates that it was manufactured by Case, "1840" shows the model number, and "X" represents the production year. You can refer to Case’s year code chart to determine which year "X" corresponds to.
Other Methods
If you cannot determine the manufacturing year from the PIN, here are some alternative methods:

1. Contact a Case Dealer: Many Case dealers can look up detailed information about the equipment using the PIN, including the production year.
   
2. Check the Equipment Manual: The equipment's operation manual often indicates the production year, especially when buying used equipment.
   
3. Use Online Lookup Tools: Case's official website or other third-party websites provide online lookup tools where you can input the PIN to retrieve detailed machine information, including the production year.
   

Conclusion
By decoding the PIN of a Case 1840 skid steer, you can accurately determine the machine’s manufacturing year. This information is essential for maintenance, parts sourcing, and overall equipment management. In addition to the PIN, you can verify the production year by contacting a dealer or using online lookup tools.