Explanation of Sun Hydraulics Date Code

Sun stamps a date code on all products to provide a means for tracking their production history. Date codes are stamped on one of the hex body flats on all cartridges, and on one surface of all standard bodies.

Beginning 1 January 1994, Sun added a second line to its present date code system to identify the location where each individual product was manufactured.

1986 to PresentLocation Code Location Code
Two digit, alpha-numeric code representing location of manufacture.

MONTH DAY
A = January G = July A = 1st L = 12th W = 23rd
B = February H = August B = 2nd M = 13th X = 24th
C = March I = September C = 3rd N = 14th Y = 25th
D = April J = October D = 4th  O = 15h Z = 26th
E = May  K = November E = 5th P = 16th 5 = 27th
F = June L = December F = 6th Q = 17th 6 = 28th
G = 7th R = 18th 7 = 29th
H = 8th  S = 19th 8 = 30th
I = 9th   T = 20th 9 = 31st
J = 10th U = 21st
K = 11th V = 22nd

Date Codes between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1985
(Numbered 1 through 64)

YearJan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
1970 1 2 3 4
1971 5 6 7 8
1972 9 10 11 12
1973 13 14 15 16
1974 17 18 19 20
1975 21 22 23 24
1976 25 26 27 28
1977 29 30 31 32
1978 33 34 35 36
1979 37 38 39 40
1980 41 42 43 44
1981 45 46 47 48
1982 49 50 51 52
1983 53 54 55 56
1984 57 58 59 60
1985 61 62 63 64