How to Find a Hyster® Forklift Model or Year

This guide will be helpful if you’ve bought a used Hyster forklift but lack information about the model or the year it was made. Without that knowledge, it’s difficult to repair or maintain the forklift, as you’ll need manuals for repairs, parts, or operations. To get these manuals for your Hyster forklift (or any other lift truck brand), you must have the model and serial number to find the correct technical documentation.

This article will guide you in locating that information on your Hyster forklift. Specifically, it will show you how to find the forklift’s serial number, which gives you access to the essential details for keeping it in top shape, including the year it was manufactured.

What is my Hyster forklift’s serial number?

The quickest way to locate the serial number of a Hyster forklift is by checking the nameplate (also called a data tag or info plate). This metal plate offers key details about your forklift.

The forklift nameplate or data tag includes the following:

• Forklift model (See 1 in the image)
• Serial number (See 2 in the image)
• Forklift weight (See 3 in the image)
• Lifting capacity (See 4 in the image)

The nameplate is usually near the dashboard on a Hyster lift truck. As Hyster and Yale forklifts are made by the same company, NACCO, their nameplates often share similarities.

What to do if the nameplate is unreadable

If the nameplate has worn out, rusted, or is otherwise unreadable, you can still find the serial number in two other places:

1. On newer forklifts, it may be stored in the electronic system.
2. It can also be stamped into the forklift’s frame.

How to find the Hyster lift truck’s year of manufacture

To determine the year your Hyster forklift was made, read the serial number and look for a letter in the last position.

Since Hyster and Yale are both produced by NACCO, many tools and processes for identifying trucks are similar. Hyster began its lettering system in 1957, much earlier than Yale. This system uses the last letter of the serial number to determine the manufacturing year as follows:

Note: The letters “I,” “O,” and “Q” are skipped.

The process repeats every 23 years. So, if your Hyster forklift’s serial number ends with “S,” it was made in 2018. If it was manufactured before 1957, you should contact your local Hyster dealer for more information.