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large snake hanging from an excavator

P

Python

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
6
Location
Switzerland
Hello everybody,
At first many, many thanks for all your efforts for helping me to determine this excavator and its bucket. Very, very sad to here, that almost every size of bucket could have been on this excavator and that not even the number of the teeth can be used as a hint of the wide of the bucket. As already noted by other users, this picture was in several newspapers and even a biologist recently mentioned the shown reticulated python as probably 11 m long in a scientific paper. I would have loved to disprove this most probably very exaggerated measurement with the help of you – the experts. But I realize now, that it seems almost impossible. Once again, thank you very much for all your help!
 
joispoi

joispoi

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
1,284
Location
Connecticut
The tail of the snake goes under the excavator. I wouldn't bet against it being 11m based on this picture.
 
Hendrik

Hendrik

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
1,232
Location
Adelaide South Australia
Python said:
Hello everybody,
At first many, many thanks for all your efforts for helping me to determine this excavator and its bucket. Very, very sad to here, that almost every size of bucket could have been on this excavator and that not even the number of the teeth can be used as a hint of the wide of the bucket. As already noted by other users, this picture was in several newspapers and even a biologist recently mentioned the shown reticulated python as probably 11 m long in a scientific paper. I would have loved to disprove this most probably very exaggerated measurement with the help of you – the experts. But I realize now, that it seems almost impossible. Once again, thank you very much for all your help!
Click to expand...
Well most here agree that the bucket is over a meter wide but I understand that you want to be 100% certain.
Due to the angle the picture was taken at, it is hard to judge the size of the snake against the size of the machine, as the actual size of the excavator is known
http://www.hitachi-c-m.com/global/pdf/products/excavator/medium/ex200-2/KS-E076.pdf however once again we can't be certain as to the length of the excavator arm, as there are three sizes.
Also I don't think that the boom is all the way up, so once again it is guess work. However I would guess that the bottom of the teeth are between 4 and 5 meters off the ground, the top of the cabin is 3 meters.
Another factor is that not all of the python is shown, with it's tail in the grass.
However if we say the bucket is 1.03meter (40.5") wide then the claim of 11meters(36 feet) is probably not that far off the mark.
Unfortunately we cannot be 100% sure, if there where more pictures from different angles it would be easier to judge.
 
C

clansing1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
146
Location
Iowa
This photo is a FAKE, in my opinion. It would be almost impossible to pick up a snake like this with an excavator. I would think you would need a clam or thumb to grab it. If the snake is dead how was it killed and only the head was damaged?
 
O

orville

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
247
Location
Burnsville, Minnesota
Occupation
Millwright / weldor
JTL said:
Who gives a ratts swollen rectum about the size of the bucket? That snake needs a proper burial!
Click to expand...

Why would you bury a snake like that. The killing of a python is probably rare. The meat in that snake could bring top $$$ at a local restaurant in the area. Hopefully they saved the hide and butchered the snake before the meat spoiled. I have heard of eating rattle snake in the southern U.S. I could see handbags belts and clothing of some sort being made out of the skin and sold for big $$$$. Even alligators in the south were made into handbags and other things. When the alligator was protected those items brought even bigger $$$$. There is a lot of good meat in an alligator tail, and that python looks all tail. Hopefully that snake was put to good use and not wasted.
 
C

cjplanthire

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Messages
121
Location
Eire
Occupation
Plant contractor
clansing1 said:
This photo is a FAKE, in my opinion. It would be almost impossible to pick up a snake like this with an excavator. I would think you would need a clam or thumb to grab it. If the snake is dead how was it killed and only the head was damaged?
Click to expand...

no its not, i have taken on alot tougher challenges than lifting up a dead snake on the bucket, it can and has been done, try flicking open the taildoor of a tipper truck delivering stone to a road that i was the machine dribver on , flicking open the taildoor with the grading bucket of a zaxis 130lcn at full trottle while tracking backwards, and slewing to the right at full boar and the lorry reversing, i do it all the time it saves the lorry driver andf me time ,esp if we are in a hurry of a price job!
 
B

Bluestone1

Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
11
Location
North Dakota
cjplanthire said:
no its not, i have taken on alot tougher challenges than lifting up a dead snake on the bucket, it can and has been done, try flicking open the taildoor of a tipper truck delivering stone to a road that i was the machine dribver on , flicking open the taildoor with the grading bucket of a zaxis 130lcn at full trottle while tracking backwards, and slewing to the right at full boar and the lorry reversing, i do it all the time it saves the lorry driver andf me time ,esp if we are in a hurry of a price job!
Click to expand...



No reason to believe this is a fake. A hoe that size could pick 10,000-15,000 lbs easy. The bucket is definately bigger than 36" I would say it's at least 48".
 
C

caterpillarmech

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
533
Location
Florence Texas
Occupation
Field Service Supervisor
Any one notice that is not just a bucket. It is some sort of open bottom grapple bucket. Look at he hinge point the snake is on and the other on the top of the pic. It may be all kind of odd dimensions now. Standard is not standard on this thing.
 
John C.

John C.

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Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,870
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
The other thing that no one has brought up is the way the photo was taken. It is a forced perspective. The camera is set to have a deep depth of focus and it is shooting the photo at a low angle. The two men on the machine can be clearly seen. Your eyes will automatically use the size of the men to infer the size of the bucket and snake. The low angle of the camera accents the perspective.

To truly make the photo representative of the size of the snake, one of the men needs to be standing next to it. I'm sure it is a big snake. I don't think it is something the world has never seen before.
 
stock

stock

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
2,022
Location
Eire
Occupation
We have moved on and now were lost....
Well from this old coot perspective probably a EX130 with a 1m bucket, I seen those tooth carriers on lots of imported buckets and they are a proper pain in the back side retaining pin is on rubber and fall out with great regularity. Also seem to recall a post here on the forum about a similar bucket again on a Hitachi that had two similar horns on the back,was being used in demolition..........................but then I'm an old coot that no-one pays attention too
 
C

cjplanthire

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Messages
121
Location
Eire
Occupation
Plant contractor
DIRTROAD said:
View attachment 87728


looks nothing like an ex130, or an fh 130. its a ex200-1 possibly an ex220-1 look at the boom and dipper, the 130s had a long narrow 3m dipper , its either a 200 or a 220 with a 48inch or 4 foot digging bucket with 235 tips , the 2 shanks on the back are for uprooting treestumps, you dig a hole infront of the tree put the bucket in it the shanks on the back of the bucket go under the tree and you toss the tree over away from the machine!
its as simple as that!

another thing that gives away the machines size is the tracks and undercarraige defo a d5 what a 20 tonner would run on!
Click to expand...
 
CRAFT

CRAFT

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Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
929
Location
100 M H,BC,Canada
Occupation
30 yrs Owner/Operator
WHO REALLY CARES ! ..... :Banghead...........That's ONE MOTHER of a big Snake :eek: and I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that thing without being in an excavator like that what ever size it is !!! ......LMFAO ......:falldownlaugh ........ LOL......
 
W

wildhorse trnr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Messages
78
Location
Texas
Occupation
Field Technician
It wouldn't matter, I treat all snakes as if they are one of the dreaded copper headed rattle moccasins and treat accordingly with tender loving care from my 12 guage.
 
bigshow

bigshow

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
467
Location
Somewhere.
You sure? kinda looks like a John Deere 595D to me......I would dare to say that bucket is a 60" wayne Roy swinger bucket. It's a big snake, who cares I don't.
 
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