Caterpillar S490
Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown
The Cat S490 Straight Shear is a passive hydraulic demolition and scrap-processing attachment, not a self-powered machine. It carries no engine of its own — the jaw cylinder draws all its closing force from the auxiliary hydraulic circuit of whatever excavator carries it, so power output and duty cycle track the host machine, not the shear. The S490 is the largest of Caterpillar's legacy Straight Shear trio (S440, S465, S490), a fixed-jaw, non-rotating design built for second-member (stick-replacement) or third-member (bucket-position) mounting on large excavator carriers. Reported operating weight for the tool alone runs around 8,100 kg (17,860 lb), though that figure traces to a single used-unit record rather than a published factory sheet, so treat it as approximate. Production years and a confirmed predecessor model are not documented publicly; this is a thinly-covered legacy attachment, and Cat's parts and service literature for it stays largely internal rather than public.
What is known points to a straightforward line evolution: the Straight Shear family (S440/S465/S490) sat above Caterpillar's smaller S365/S390 shear tier, and the demolition-shear catalog has since moved toward the rotating S2000/S3000 series, which adds 360-degree jaw rotation the fixed-jaw S490 never offered. Because the S490 predates that shift and was never picked up by the major public spec aggregators, dealers and rebuild shops lean on internal service literature and the physical PIN plate to identify, price, and stock parts for a given unit rather than a public data sheet. That scarcity is exactly why the used and parts market still matters here: a working S490 is a heavy, purpose-built cutting tool that continues to draw demand from demolition contractors running large carriers, and anyone researching one should expect to verify pin sizing, hydraulic hookup, and wear condition in person rather than off a catalog page.
Below: full specifications, fluids & capacities, the factory service schedule, common service parts, verified fault codes, what owners discuss, attachment guidance, the complete assembly directory, and a serial-number reference. Complete parts lists with full OEM part numbers, exploded diagrams, quantities, and fitment data are available free in Heavy Parts AI.
Caterpillar S490 specifications
Engine
| Power source | Not applicable. The S490 Straight Shear is a passive hydraulic work tool with no engine, ECM, or onboard power source. It runs off the hydraulic system of the host excavator it is mounted to. |
Weights
| Operating weight | Approximately 8,100 kg (17,860 lb) reported for a second-member S490 shear assembly. This figure comes from a specific unit record rather than a published factory spec sheet — treat as approximate and confirm with your dealer before ordering. |
| Shipping weight | Not documented for this tool. |
| Ground pressure | Not applicable — the S490 is a mounted work tool, not a self-propelled undercarriage machine. |
Dimensions
| Boom pin diameter | 120 mm (4.72 in) |
| Cylinder pin diameter | 100 mm (3.94 in) |
| Jaw bracket width (ear to ear) | Approximately 430 mm (16-15/16 in) |
| Transport length / width / height | Not published for this model. |
| Wheelbase / track gauge / ground clearance | Not applicable — the S490 has no undercarriage; it mounts to a host excavator stick. |
Performance
| Main shear cylinder | 300 mm (11.8 in) bore x 1200 mm (47.2 in) stroke |
| Cutting force / jaw opening angle | Not published for this model. |
| Travel speed / gradeability | Not applicable — the S490 is a passive attachment with no travel function of its own. |
Service capacities (summary)
| Fuel tank | Not applicable — no engine fitted. |
| Engine oil | Not applicable — no engine fitted. |
| Cooling system | Not applicable — no engine fitted. |
| Hydraulic system | No published capacity figure for the shear itself. It operates on hydraulic flow and pressure supplied by the host excavator; match hookup to the carrier's auxiliary circuit rating. |
Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.
S490 fluids & capacities
| System | Capacity | Recommended fluid |
|---|---|---|
| Pin and bushing lubrication (jaw and cylinder pivot points) | No dedicated reservoir; grease-gun application at each pin and bushing joint per lube-point count on the tool | Cat Advanced 3Moly Grease (NLGI 2) or Cat Multipurpose Grease EP; general Cat work-tool guidance calls for daily (8-10 hour) regreasing, shortened to about every 4 hours in wet, sandy, or heavy demolition-debris conditions |
| Rotation drive gearbox (optional rotating-head variant only) | Not published for this model; the S440/S465/S490 Straight Shear line is documented as fixed-jaw, non-rotating in standard configuration | Not applicable to the standard straight-jaw S490; if a rotator unit is field-fitted, follow that rotator's own tag/plate spec (typically Cat TDTO or Cat GO gear oil) |
| Hydraulic oil (cylinders fed from carrier excavator circuit) | No standalone tank on the attachment; shear cylinders draw from and return to the host excavator's hydraulic system, so capacity follows the carrier machine, not the tool | Match the carrier excavator's own hydraulic fluid spec (Cat HYDO Advanced or Cat BIO HYDO Advanced, viscosity graded to ambient temperature per the carrier's OMM); keep fluid cleanliness within the carrier's specified ISO code and avoid mixing fluid brands/types |
Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.
Caterpillar S490 maintenance schedule
| Service interval | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Every 10 h |
|
| Every 250 h |
|
| Every 500 h |
|
| Every 1,000 h |
|
| Every 2,000 h |
|
| Every 4,000 h |
|
Servicing the S490 beyond the schedule
Predictive maintenance & fluid analysis
The S490 has no engine oil to sample — predictive care here means watching the carrier excavator's hydraulic fluid and the shear's own pin joints. Pull fluid samples from the carrier circuit feeding the jaw cylinder and track particle counts against the carrier's ISO cleanliness target; rising contamination shows up first as seal wear on this shear. Log pivot-pin and bushing clearance at every service interval and trend the numbers — a joint gaining play faster than its neighbors signals a bushing nearing end of life before it egg-outs the bore.
Corrective & common repairs
Most S490 repairs trace to three parts: cylinder seals, jaw blades, and pin-bushing sets. Reseal the jaw cylinder at the first sign of rod scoring or barrel weep rather than waiting for a full leak — contamination from a failing seal spreads fast in a shear this size. Re-edge or swap cutting blades once clearance opens beyond the feeler-gauge limit, since a dull or gapped jaw multiplies cycle force on the pins. Replace pins and bushings as matched sets, keeping the pin softer than the bushing so wear concentrates on the cheaper part.
Overhaul & rebuild points
A full S490 rebuild centers on the jaw structure and its pin bores, not a powertrain teardown. Inspect the main body and blade housing welds at the high-stress corners for fatigue cracking before it propagates through the casting. Bore-worn pin holes need weld buildup and remachining back to spec, not just an oversized pin. At major overhaul, pull every pin and bushing regardless of individual wear, rebuild or replace the jaw cylinder as a unit, and re-verify jaw closing geometry before the shear goes back on a carrier.
Seasonal & environment servicing
Environment drives S490 service more than the calendar. In cold climates, match grease and the carrier's hydraulic fluid grade to ambient temperature, since stiff grease or thick oil slows jaw response and starves pin joints on cold start. In wet, sandy, or heavy-debris demolition work, shorten the greasing interval from the standard daily service down toward every four hours, since grit pulled past pin seals is the leading cause of early bushing wear on this class of shear. Wipe coupler faces clean before every hookup regardless of season.
S490 attachments & work tools
Configuration / jaw type
The S490 is the largest member of Caterpillar's legacy Straight Shear line, grouped in factory service literature together with the S440 and S465 as a single documented family. It is a fixed, straight-jaw demolition/scrap shear (single dedicated cutting jaw set), not a multi-processor with interchangeable crusher, pulverizer, or grapple jaw kits.
Rotation
As a Straight Shear, the S490 has no hydraulic rotate function; jaw orientation is fixed relative to the mounting pins. Caterpillar's separate Rotating Shear lineup (S2000/S3000-series) is where 360-degree hydraulic rotation is offered, and that feature is not part of the S440/S465/S490 straight-shear family.
Coupler / mounting system
The S490 pins directly to the excavator boom and stick as a dedicated work tool (boom pin and cylinder/rod pin), rather than through a bucket-style quick coupler. Reference material for this shear family ties it to carriers built with Caterpillar's TB-Linkage-style stick geometry; exact pin sizing is carrier-dependent and not consistently published across sources, so treat pin diameters as varying by configuration.
Hydraulic kit / arrangement
Jaw closing force is supplied by the carrier's dedicated attachment (auxiliary) hydraulic circuit driving the shear's own cylinder; the unit has no self-contained power pack. Specific flow and pressure requirements for the S490 are not published in available factory or dealer literature and would vary with the excavator class and hydraulic kit fitted to the carrier.
Carrier class
The S440/S465/S490 family sits above Caterpillar's S365/S390 straight-shear tier in size, implying pairing with large excavator carriers, but no single confirmed carrier weight-class range for the S490 specifically was found in available documentation; treat carrier sizing as unconfirmed rather than assume figures from the S390/S385C tier.
Guarding / factory options
No S490-specific guarding, wear-package, or optional-kit list was located. General literature for Caterpillar's demolition shear range references cylinder guarding and replaceable wear/cutting components as standard construction, but a confirmed S490-specific options list is not published.
All S490 assemblies by section
Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar S490. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.
Frame And Body
217-8729 Housing Gp-Shear
| 11***73 | Seal; (0.5cm) (X2) | 0 |
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 24 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 2 |
209-1710 Housing Gp-Shear
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 24 |
| 15***21 | Lockwasher | 24 |
| 16***64 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x55-mm) | 24 |
217-8727 Housing Gp-Shear
| 11***73 | Seal; (0.5cm) (X2) | 0 |
| 14***52 | Elbow As. | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 2 |
208-4485 Housing Gp-Shear
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 42 |
| 15***21 | Lockwasher | 34 |
| 16***09 | Nut; (M100x4-Thd) | 1 |
217-8728 Housing Gp-Shear
| 11***73 | Seal; (0.5cm) (X2) | 0 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 2 |
| 15***21 | Lockwasher | 34 |
210-9420 Housing Gp-Shear
| 14***52 | Elbow As. | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 38 |
| 15***21 | Lockwasher | 18 |
Hydraulic System
196-2026 Cylinder & Lines Gp-Shear
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
| 17***21 | Adapter As | 1 |
| 19***26 | Cylinder & Lines Group-Shear | 1 |
187-2996 Cylinder & Lines Gp-Shear
| 12***22 | Bolt; (M14x2x50-mm) | 8 |
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
| 17***21 | Adapter As | 1 |
187-2962 Cylinder & Lines Gp-Shear
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
| 17***21 | Adapter As | 1 |
| 18***62 | Cylinder & Lines Group-Shear | 1 |
187-2993 Cylinder & Valve Gp
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 1 |
| 14***51 | Elbow Group | 1 |
| 15***18 | Lockwasher | 2 |
196-2022 Cylinder & Valve Gp
| 14***06 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x140-mm) | 5 |
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 1 |
| 14***51 | Elbow Group | 1 |
187-2945 Cylinder & Valve Gp
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 1 |
| 15***18 | Lockwasher | 2 |
| 16***54 | Seal | 1 |
187-3002 Cylinder Gp-Shear
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 1 |
| 14***84 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x110-mm) | 22 |
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
196-2030 Cylinder Gp-Shear
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 1 |
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
| 17***23 | Plug As | 4 |
187-2978 Cylinder Gp-Shear
| 09***48 | Nipple, Grease | 1 |
| 16***16 | Seal | 1 |
| 16***41 | Bushing | 2 |
216-3467 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 14***38 | Elbow | 2 |
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 2 |
| 21***67 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
213-9160 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 1P***05 | Seal (Check Valve Outlet) | 4 |
| 21***60 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
| 21***08 | Hose As | 1 |
217-3612 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 4 |
| 21***12 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
| 21***89 | Hose As | 1 |
221-1073 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 1P***05 | Seal (Check Valve Outlet) | 4 |
| 22***73 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
| 22***12 | Hose As | 1 |
216-1734 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 14***38 | Elbow | 2 |
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 2 |
| 21***31 | Hose As | 2 |
211-0163 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 4 |
| 21***63 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
| 21***34 | Hose As | 2 |
213-7287 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 1P***05 | Seal (Check Valve Outlet) | 4 |
| 21***87 | Lines Group-Connecting | 1 |
| 21***91 | Hose As | 2 |
216-3908 Lines Gp-Connecting
| 14***38 | Elbow | 2 |
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 2 |
| 21***56 | Hose As | 1 |
208-8451 Valve Gp-Control
| 13***54 | Plug As | 3 |
| 20***51 | Valve Group-Control | 1 |
| 20***87 | Slack Adjuster Group | 1 |
172-2207 Valve Gp-Speed Control
| 17***30 | Plug | 6 |
| 17***31 | Valve | 1 |
| 17***32 | Plug-Screw | 2 |
170-3229 Valve Gp-Speed Control
| 17***29 | Valve Group-Speed Control | 1 |
| 17***30 | Plug | 6 |
| 17***31 | Valve | 1 |
208-5125 Valve Gp-Speed Control
| 09***01 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M8x1.25x40-mm) | 4 |
| 17***55 | Seal-O-Ring | 2 |
| 20***74 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M16x2x55-mm) | 8 |
Service Equipment And Supplies
210-9403 Film Gp
| 14***36 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 2 |
| 14***69 | Film-Warning; (Alert) | 2 |
| 14***70 | Film-Warning; (Read Omm) | 2 |
209-1708 Film Gp
| 14***36 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 2 |
| 15***96 | Film-Notice; (Lift Eye Location) | 5 |
| 15***35 | Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back) | 2 |
210-9422 Film Gp
| 14***36 | Film-Warning; (Flying Debris) | 2 |
| 14***69 | Film-Warning; (Alert) | 2 |
| 14***70 | Film-Warning; (Read Omm) | 2 |
210-9408 Kit-Maintenance
| 14***74 | Fitting As | 2 |
| 16***86 | Shim; (1-mm Thk) | 2 |
| 16***88 | Shim; (1.5-mm Thk) | 1 |
213-8385 Kit-Maintenance
| 17***03 | Wrench-T-Handle | 1 |
| 17***77 | Fitting As; (Quick Disconnect, Male) | 2 |
| 17***50 | Wrench; (Lock, 140) | 1 |
210-9405 Kit-Maintenance
| 16***74 | Shim; (0.5-mm Thk) | 10 |
| 16***75 | Shim; (1-mm Thk) | 14 |
| 16***92 | Wrench | 1 |
Work Tool Arrangement
210-9418 Shear Ar-Hydraulic
| 21***08 | Kit-Maintenance | 1 |
| 21***18 | Shear Ar-Hydraulic | 1 |
| 21***20 | Housing Group-Shear | 1 |
208-4471 Shear Ar-Hydraulic
| 20***71 | Shear Ar-Hydraulic | 1 |
| 20***85 | Housing Group-Shear | 1 |
| 21***03 | Film Group | 1 |
209-1706 Shear Ar-Hydraulic
| 20***06 | Shear Ar-Hydraulic | 1 |
| 20***08 | Film Group | 1 |
| 20***10 | Housing Group-Shear | 1 |
Work Tools
208-4475 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***90 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x70-mm) | 48 |
| 20***75 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***82 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4473 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***93 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x80-mm) | 24 |
| 20***73 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***80 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
222-8510 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***90 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x70-mm) | 34 |
| 22***10 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 22***15 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4476 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***90 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x70-mm) | 48 |
| 20***76 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***83 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
233-7246 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 16***43 | Seal | 1 |
| 16***80 | Adapter As | 2 |
208-4481 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 13***17 | Bearing-Sleeve; (116.23mm Od) | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 17***61 | Cover | 2 |
208-4479 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 14***81 | Plug | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 16***80 | Adapter As | 2 |
208-4474 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***90 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x70-mm) | 34 |
| 20***74 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***81 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4472 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***93 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x80-mm) | 24 |
| 20***72 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***79 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4480 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 14***81 | Plug | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 16***80 | Adapter As | 2 |
208-4484 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 14***81 | Plug | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 19***93 | Cover | 2 |
233-7093 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***93 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x80-mm) | 24 |
| 23***93 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 23***46 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4477 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***90 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x70-mm) | 48 |
| 20***77 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 20***84 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
208-4483 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 14***81 | Plug | 2 |
| 15***28 | Bearing-Sleeve | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
222-8509 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 17***93 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x80-mm) | 24 |
| 22***09 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
| 22***14 | Bracket Group-Mounting | 1 |
222-8514 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 13***17 | Bearing-Sleeve; (116.23mm Od) | 2 |
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 16***43 | Seal | 1 |
208-4482 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 19***93 | Cover | 2 |
| 1P***05 | Seal (Check Valve Outlet) | 4 |
222-8515 Bracket Gp-Mounting
| 15***19 | Lockwasher | 16 |
| 17***61 | Cover | 2 |
| 1P***04 | Seal - Rectangular (45mm Dia) | 2 |
197-7455 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 14***15 | Screw-Flat Head; (M20x2.5x100-mm) | 7 |
| 14***87 | Screw-Flat Head | 7 |
| 16***74 | Shim; (0.5-mm Thk) | 10 |
217-1410 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 11***30 | Bolt-Socket Head; (M20x2.5x150-mm) | 4 |
| 14***66 | Screw-Flat Head; (M24x3x160-mm) | 9 |
| 14***25 | Screw-Flat Head | 9 |
196-2023 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 14***66 | Screw-Flat Head; (M24x3x160-mm) | 9 |
| 14***25 | Screw-Flat Head | 9 |
| 17***81 | Edge-Cutting | 1 |
195-0780 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 14***15 | Screw-Flat Head; (M20x2.5x100-mm) | 14 |
| 14***81 | Screw-Flat Head | 3 |
| 16***85 | Edge-Cutting | 1 |
216-7648 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 14***15 | Screw-Flat Head; (M20x2.5x100-mm) | 7 |
| 14***87 | Screw-Flat Head | 7 |
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 3 |
217-1411 Edge Gp-Cutting
| 14***15 | Screw-Flat Head; (M20x2.5x100-mm) | 14 |
| 14***81 | Screw-Flat Head | 3 |
| 14***78 | Lockwasher | 3 |
200-2961 Lock Gp-Shear
| 20***17 | Plate-Lock | 2 |
| 20***61 | Lock Group-Shear | 1 |
| 8T***32 | Nut (M16 X 2 Thd); (M16x2.00 Thd) | 2 |
200-2962 Lock Gp-Shear
| 20***62 | Lock Group-Shear | 1 |
| 8T***32 | Nut (M16 X 2 Thd); (M16x2.00 Thd) | 2 |
| 8T***75 | Bolt; (M16x2x90-mm) | 1 |
200-2885 Lock Gp-Shear
| 20***85 | Lock Group-Shear | 1 |
| 20***86 | Plate-Lock | 2 |
| 8T***32 | Nut (M16 X 2 Thd); (M16x2.00 Thd) | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What powers the Cat S490?
Nothing on the shear itself. The S490 has no engine, ECM, or onboard power source — it is a passive hydraulic attachment. Its jaw cylinder runs entirely off the auxiliary hydraulic circuit of the excavator carrier it is pinned to, so power and cycle speed depend on that host machine, not the shear.
What is the operating weight of the S490?
Reported operating weight for the tool alone is approximately 8,100 kg (17,860 lb). That figure comes from a single used-unit record rather than a published factory spec sheet, so treat it as approximate and confirm with a dealer before sizing a carrier or arranging transport.
What replaced the S490?
No documented direct successor model number exists for the S490 specifically. Caterpillar's current shear lineup, the rotating S2000/S3000 series, occupies the role the Straight Shear family once held and adds 360-degree jaw rotation the fixed-jaw S490 never offered, but there is no confirmed one-to-one replacement tied to the S490 nameplate.
What S490 owners discuss
What do operators say about pin and bushing wear on a shear like the S490?
How does the jaw cylinder typically behave, and what hydraulic issues come up?
Which excavator classes pair well with the S490?
What seal and hose problems come up most with attachments in this class?
What should a buyer check on a used S490 before purchase?
Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.
Need a specific S490 part?
Search live OEM part data, check fitment, and cross-reference alternatives with Heavy Parts AI.