One of my customers has a FG15 F2 grey market machine with Japaneze writing on the data plate. It has the 4G33 motor.

dondog says "I think most of you know the sound.....It needs a 9 tooth starter and we matched to an 8 tooth, I don't think that is the problem".
I [however] am SURE that is the problem, and will cause bigger problems soon, if you keep cranking on that flywheel with that starter bendix..

Thank You to everyone for the information so far. The people at Romaine Electric in Portland, Oregon were able to come up with a starter for me. It engages perfectly and starts the motor. When the motor fires to run sometimes it makes that noise of the starter drive gear not disengageing instantantly. I think most of you know the sound..... It needs a 9 tooth starter and we matched to an 8 tooth, I don't think that is the problem. Suggestions? There are no unusual noises at engagement and cranking, only for the moment after the engine starts to run on gasoline....... I try to shut off the key the moment the engine starts.....

Also, I got an engine manual for the 4G33, 4G52, and 4G54. The printing date is May 1981 so the manual is in the right vinatage. It said to look next to #1 cylinder near the front of the motor and there is a number there. The number is 300478. I used a magnet and the block is steel, but the head is Aluminum. Saturn is embossed in the valve cover. The model number of the engine is also supposed to be with the serial number, but there is no model number stamped with the serial number. How can I tell if the motor is a 1.8 L or a 2.0 L...? Will the service manual I have work for it? I read someplace that there may be a FG32 engine... Is that what I have? Ideas? Thanks for all the assistance.

The Mitsubishi Saturn series of engines were made in 1.2L & 1.8L engines sizes starting in 1969.
Secondly, it is not uncommon for the units built for Japan market (where the majority of "grey" markets models came from) and other countries to have a smaller engine than one built for the US market.
Other factors, units built by Mitsubishi for the US market were UL approved and compliant to ANSI/SAE standards. This means the trucks wiring, other electric components and other parts are more than likely different.
Most lift truck dealers in the US would not have a parts book for "grey" market units. Parts books for trucks produced for the Japanese markets would be printed in Japanese.
I joined Mitsubishi in 1984 in Houston, when "grey" market units were very common place & our corporate parts/service people had a real hard time finding service parts for the grey market machines. Fortunately, we had support people from Japan on staff that could eventually help if they had the serial number.

Look on the exhaust manifold side of the motor between #2 & #3 cylinders about half way down on the block, there will be a stamping of engine model & serial number, should be a 4G52 Mitsubishi motor. Do you see a stamping on the data plate that reads F17A-00497?? If you see that on the truck,that should be the serial number. There was a FG20 built in the mid to late 80's just as you described, check out Service manual #99719-01170a to confirm,this manual is for Chassis & transmission,engine is covered by a different manual. You may also want to look around eBay for manuals,I find quite a few out of print ones on there from guy's getting out of the forklift field.

This is very helpful. Thanks for your response. The motor is a 4 cyl. gas unit with Saturn embosed in the valve cover. I need a starter for the forklift. Does anyone have any idea what model the motor would be or what was typically put into this forklift of this vintage? Is there a Mitsubishi dealer that is good with this type of older gray market truck? I am in Oregon.

It is a 1979 unit and it is a gray market truck which means it was not originally sold in the US. The 3000 most likely refers to how high it lifts in millimeters and the 2000 refers to the metric lift capacity.
You can try getting parts from your local Mitsubishi dealer but in most cases they don't have the information to look up parts for gray market forklift trucks.