{"id":763,"date":"2026-05-28T05:46:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T05:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/?p=763"},"modified":"2026-05-28T05:46:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T05:46:53","slug":"thor-2-4-tooth-wear-monitoring-field-inspection-guide-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/thor-2-4-tooth-wear-monitoring-field-inspection-guide-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"THOR 2.4 Zahnverschlei\u00df\u00fcberwachung \u2013 Praktischer Leitfaden f\u00fcr die Feldinspektion und Entscheidungsrahmen f\u00fcr den Zahnersatz"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THOR 2.4 Tooth Wear Monitoring \u2014 Practical Field Inspection Guide and Replacement Decision Framework for Korean Highland Operators<\/h1>\n

Most THOR 2.4 tooth sets fail gradually \u2014 not all at once. The operator who inspects correctly can replace the worn teeth before output quality degrades, rather than discovering the problem when the spring preparation window has already closed.<\/p>\n

THOR 2.4 Parts and Maintenance Enquiry<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Der THOR 2.4 stone crusher’s<\/a>\u00a0output quality \u2014 its ability to fragment stones to the residual size standard required for Korean highland potato, radish, and ginseng \u2014 is determined by the cutting geometry of its tungsten carbide teeth. As teeth wear, this geometry degrades progressively, changing the machine’s fragmentation performance in ways that are not visible from the tractor cab until the degradation has reached a stage where field results are measurably worse.<\/p>\n

The field inspection protocol covered in this guide gives Korean highland THOR 2.4 operators the practical measurement methods, the visual recognition criteria for wear stages, and the decision framework for determining exactly when replacement is needed \u2014 not too early (wasting residual tooth life) and not too late (accepting degraded fragmentation quality during the critical spring preparation window). This is a companion to the replacement overview in the THOR tooth replacement article \u2014 it covers the how-to of each inspection step rather than the organisational calendar of replacement procurement.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Teeth Do and Why Geometry Determines Fragmentation Quality<\/h2>\n

\"THOR<\/p>\n

Each THOR 2.4 tungsten carbide tooth performs two functions simultaneously: it delivers concentrated kinetic energy to the stone contact point (fracturing the stone), and it provides a defined cutting geometry that controls the size range of the fragments produced. Both functions depend on the tooth tip geometry being within its designed profile:<\/p>\n

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New tooth \u2014 optimal geometry<\/p>\n

Sharp tungsten carbide tip concentrates impact force over a small contact area, producing high contact stress that exceeds the tensile strength of Korean granite at the contact point. The stone fractures along its weakest plane. Fragment size is controlled by the hood clearance setting \u2014 the space between the rotor circumference and the rear hood determines the maximum fragment size that can exit the crushing chamber.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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70% remaining \u2014 early wear stage<\/p>\n

The tungsten carbide tip is shorter but still retains adequate geometry for effective fragmentation. Contact area is slightly larger than new, requiring marginally more impact events per stone to achieve equivalent fragmentation. Output quality at 70% remaining is marginally below new tooth performance but meets the clearance standard for most Korean highland applications. This is the inspection boundary \u2014 teeth reaching 70% should be scheduled for replacement before the next major operating session.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Below 60% \u2014 critical degradation zone<\/p>\n

Below 60%, the tungsten carbide tip is substantially shorter and the carbide-steel interface zone may be approaching or entering the steel body. The tooth contact area is now large enough that it functions more as a blunt impact tool than a concentrated cutter \u2014 requiring 3\u20135 times as many impacts to achieve equivalent fragmentation as a new tooth. Large stones that would be fragmented in 1\u20132 rotor contacts with new teeth are now being rolled and scraped across the rotor path rather than fractured. Residual stone size in the output increases above the target standard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Field Measurement Protocol \u2014 How to Inspect Teeth Accurately<\/h2>\n

Accurate tooth wear assessment requires three items: a vernier calliper or digital calliper (0\u2013150 mm range, 0.1 mm resolution), a reference measurement card or table with the new tooth dimensions for the specific THOR 2.4 tooth specification in use, and adequate lighting (the rotor pit is dark when the machine is shut down). The inspection procedure:<\/p>\n

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Step 1 \u2014 Safe shutdown<\/div>\n

Disengage PTO, shut down tractor engine, engage parking brake, and wait a minimum of 3 minutes for the rotor to completely stop rotating. The THOR 2.4 rotor has significant flywheel inertia \u2014 it continues rotating after PTO disengagement. Never reach into the rotor chamber until full stop is confirmed visually. Block the rotor with a wooden wedge if working alone to prevent any accidental rotation during inspection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 2 \u2014 Open access<\/div>\n

Open the rear hood to access the full circumference of the rotor. Remove any accumulated soil or stone fragment debris from the tooth surfaces before measuring \u2014 a packed soil deposit on the tooth body can cause the calliper to read the soil surface rather than the actual metal surface, giving a falsely high measurement. Brush clean each tooth before measuring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 3 \u2014 Measure tip height<\/div>\n

Measure the remaining carbide tip height \u2014 the distance from the top of the tungsten carbide tip to the steel body shoulder where the carbide insert meets the steel tooth body. This is the critical measurement: compare it to the new tooth tip height from the reference card. Express as a percentage: (measured tip height \/ new tooth tip height) \u00d7 100 = remaining tip percentage. Record for each tooth position across the full rotor circumference. A THOR 2.4 with 90+6 teeth has 96 tooth positions \u2014 inspect a representative sample of 20\u201330 teeth spread across the rotor, noting position on the rotor (front zone, mid zone, rear zone) for wear pattern analysis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 4 \u2014 Assess flank condition<\/div>\n

After measuring tip height, visually inspect the tooth flanks (the side surfaces of the tungsten carbide insert). Flank wear that has consumed more than 40% of the carbide width on either face indicates that the carbide-steel interface is approaching the contact zone \u2014 a tooth at this flank wear stage requires replacement even if the tip height measurement appears above the 60% threshold. Jeju basalt and hard schist operations are most likely to show accelerated flank wear compared to tip wear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 5 \u2014 Document and decide<\/div>\n

Record the percentage of teeth at each wear stage: above 70% (continue), 60\u201370% (schedule replacement), below 60% (replace before next operation). Any single tooth below 60% surrounded by teeth above 70% is a sign of local stone hardness variation or a single high-impact event \u2014 replace the individual tooth rather than the full set.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Reading Wear Patterns \u2014 What Uneven Wear Tells You About Field Conditions<\/h2>\n

\"THOR<\/p>\n

Tooth wear patterns across the THOR 2.4 rotor are diagnostic \u2014 they reveal information about operating conditions that the operator may not be aware of. When inspecting a used tooth set, systematically record wear levels at the left edge, centre, and right edge of the rotor to detect patterns:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Wear pattern observed<\/th>\nMost likely cause<\/th>\nCorrective action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Uniform wear across full rotor width<\/td>\nConsistent stone distribution at operating depth \u2014 good condition. Normal outcome on well-cleared field with uniform stone density.<\/td>\nNo corrective action needed. Replace as a set when threshold reached.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Centre teeth worn faster than edges<\/td>\nCrown-shaped stone concentration below the centreline \u2014 common where the field has a legacy central stone band or where previous cultivation has concentrated stones to the centre.<\/td>\nOn the next THOR pass, offset the working line by half a working width to expose edge teeth to the denser stone zone, balancing wear across the rotor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One edge worn faster than the other<\/td>\nThe THOR 2.4 is working with one side consistently deeper than the other \u2014 typically from operating on cross-slope terrain where the downhill side of the machine penetrates deeper, or from a tractor hydraulic levelling issue.<\/td>\nCheck tractor three-point linkage levelling adjustment. On slope terrain, confirm Kit Drawbar operation is being used correctly for the gradient.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Individual scattered very worn teeth among mostly fresh teeth<\/td>\nImpact with extremely hard stones (quartzite, flint inclusions) or bedrock fragments \u2014 single high-energy contact event consuming the carbide rapidly at the impact point.<\/td>\nReplace the severely worn individual teeth. If the field has a known hard-stone zone, reduce forward speed for that zone on the next pass.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heavy flank wear, moderate tip wear<\/td>\nHigh-abrasion stone material \u2014 vesicular basalt (Jeju) or quartzitic schist producing repeated side-face abrasion rather than frontal impact events.<\/td>\nShorten inspection interval to 5\u20136 hours rather than 8 hours on these material types. Budget for higher annual tooth consumption rate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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The 60% and 70% Thresholds \u2014 What They Mean in Field Practice<\/h2>\n

The 60% and 70% remaining tip height thresholds appear in the THOR 2.4 maintenance guidance \u2014 but many Korean highland operators have never seen what these thresholds look like on an actual tooth in hand. Bridging the gap between the percentage figure and the physical appearance of the tooth at each threshold:<\/p>\n

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Above 70%:<\/span><\/p>\n

The tungsten carbide tip projects clearly above the steel shoulder \u2014 you can see a distinct bright silver-grey carbide protrusion. The tip feels sharp to a careful touch (do not drag fingers across the tip). Fragmentation quality is at or near new. Continue operating; schedule next inspection at 6\u20138 operating hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

60\u201370%:<\/span><\/p>\n

The carbide tip is visibly shorter \u2014 compare it to a new tooth held side by side and you can see the height difference clearly with the naked eye. The tip is slightly more rounded than a new tooth but the carbide is still the primary contact material. Fragmentation quality is 85\u201395% of new. This is the schedule replacement window<\/strong> \u2014 order replacement teeth now (if not already stocked) and plan the replacement for the end of the current operating session or the beginning of the next, not the middle of a field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Below 60%:<\/span><\/p>\n

The carbide tip is barely visible above the steel shoulder \u2014 the tooth body is now the primary contact surface in many orientations. The steel body will wear much faster than the carbide did \u2014 accelerating from this point rapidly toward the steel holder being damaged. Stop operating immediately.<\/strong> Using the machine further with teeth at this stage risks damaging the steel tooth holder (the precision-machined holder seat on the rotor body) \u2014 a holder seat repair is far more expensive than a tooth set replacement. Replace before any further field operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How Many Worn Teeth Before Output Quality Degrades \u2014 The Threshold Curve<\/h2>\n

The THOR 2.4 carries 90+6 = 96 teeth across the rotor. Not all 96 teeth contact stones equally in every pass \u2014 the teeth in the active engagement zone (typically the bottom 120\u00b0 of rotor arc in normal field operation) do the majority of the cutting work. The relationship between the proportion of teeth worn below threshold and the observable output quality change:<\/p>\n

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0\u201310% worn below 60%:<\/span><\/p>\n

Output quality essentially unchanged. The proportion of encounters handled by worn teeth is too low to affect the average fragmentation. Individual tooth replacement recommended but not urgent within the current session.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

10\u201325% worn below 60%:<\/span><\/p>\n

Output quality begins to show measurable degradation. The post-THOR stone residual size increases slightly \u2014 field verification (walk behind the THOR and check residual fragment size) confirms whether the residual is still below the target threshold for the current application. Replace worn teeth at end of current operating day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Above 25% worn below 60%:<\/span><\/p>\n

Output quality is significantly compromised. A THOR pass with more than 25% of teeth below the 60% threshold will leave residual stones above the target size specification for potato and radish fields. Do not continue the clearance pass<\/strong> \u2014 the effort spent operating does not achieve the intended clearance standard. Replace the worn teeth and repeat the affected field section if necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


\n\"Korean<\/p>\n

The THOR 2.4 Seasonal Inspection Schedule for Korean Highland Operations<\/h2>\n

\"CT-2100<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Inspection event<\/th>\nTiming<\/th>\nAction threshold<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Pre-season full inspection<\/td>\nFebruary \u2014 before any spring field operation<\/td>\nReplace all teeth below 70% threshold. Order complete replacement set if more than 30% of teeth are below 70% from the previous season.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scheduled mid-operation inspection<\/td>\nEvery 8 operating hours (granite fields) \/ Every 6 operating hours (basalt or hard schist)<\/td>\nReplace any individual tooth below 60%. If more than 15% of inspected teeth are in the 60\u201370% range, plan full set replacement within 2\u20134 more operating hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Post-impact inspection<\/td>\nImmediately after any confirmed bedrock contact event (sudden loud impact, machine deceleration)<\/td>\nInspect all teeth within 30 cm of the estimated impact location on the rotor. Any tooth with visible chipping, cracking of the carbide, or holder seat deformation: replace before resuming.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CT-2100 fill rate diagnostic<\/td>\nDuring operation \u2014 if CT-2100 bunker fills 20\u201330% faster than normal for the same field section type<\/td>\nWalk behind the THOR and check residual fragment size. If average fragment size has increased (more fragments above 3\u20134 cm than normal), teeth are likely worn beyond threshold. Stop and inspect.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Post-season storage inspection<\/td>\nAfter last field operation of the season (June for most Korean highland farms)<\/td>\nRecord final wear measurements for all inspected teeth. If more than 20% are at or below 70%, order replacement set in November to ensure January stock for pre-season service.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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Using the CT-2100 Fill Rate as an Indirect Tooth Wear Diagnostic<\/h2>\n

Der CT-2100<\/a> rock picker’s bunker fill rate during the THOR collection pass provides an indirect real-time indicator of THOR 2.4 tooth wear condition. The relationship works because worn THOR teeth produce larger stone fragments (inadequate fragmentation) \u2014 and larger fragments have more volume per stone, filling the CT-2100 bunker faster per unit of field area covered:<\/p>\n

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Normal teeth \u2014 normal fill rate baseline<\/p>\n

Track the CT-2100 bunker fill rate (approximate ha per bunker fill) at the beginning of the season with new or known-good teeth. This baseline \u2014 say, one bunker fill per 0.8 ha \u2014 becomes the reference for subsequent sessions. Record it in the machine log.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Worn teeth \u2014 accelerated fill rate signal<\/p>\n

If, on a comparable field section with similar stone density, the CT-2100 fill rate increases significantly (say, one bunker per 0.5 ha instead of 0.8 ha \u2014 a 60% faster fill on the same stone density), this strongly suggests the THOR 2.4 is producing coarser fragments from worn teeth. This is a field-day diagnostic that does not require stopping for a tooth measurement \u2014 but confirms that a measurement inspection is needed at the next opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/h2>\n
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\nShould I replace all 96 teeth at once or only the worn ones?<\/summary>\n

The correct approach depends on wear distribution. If the inspection shows all teeth worn uniformly (all in the 60\u201370% range), replace the full set at once \u2014 a mix of new and old teeth produces uneven impact distribution where the new teeth absorb disproportionate contact load because their sharper geometry draws stones preferentially, wearing them down faster than if all teeth were at the same age. If wear is localised (a zone of heavily worn teeth surrounded by teeth still above 70%), individual zone replacement is more economical than full-set replacement. Korea Watanabe supplies teeth in sets sized for the THOR 2.4’s 90+6 configuration \u2014 both full sets and partial zone sets are available for the different replacement scenarios. Contact Korea Watanabe to confirm stock and lead time before beginning the season to avoid mid-season unavailability.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nHow do I know if a tooth has been lost entirely from its holder during field operation?<\/summary>\n

Missing teeth are identifiable during the post-shutdown inspection by the empty holder seat \u2014 a recessed socket in the rotor body that is visible without a tooth in it. Missing teeth also produce a characteristic change in the THOR’s operating sound during the session \u2014 the rotor becomes slightly unbalanced when a tooth is lost, producing a subtle rhythmic vibration or pulsing sound at rotor frequency that differs from the normal uniform rotor noise. Experienced THOR 2.4 operators learn to detect this acoustic signature from the tractor cab and use it as a prompt to stop and inspect at the next headland. A missing tooth that is not replaced leaves the holder seat exposed to direct stone impact, risking damage to the precision-machined seat surface \u2014 the most expensive repair scenario on the THOR 2.4 rotor.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nDoes the THOR 3.0 use the same tooth specification as the THOR 2.4?<\/summary>\n

Der THOR 3.0 Steinbrecher<\/a> uses a different tooth configuration from the THOR 2.4 \u2014 the THOR 3.0 carries 108+8 teeth (versus 90+6 on the THOR 2.4) and has a larger rotor diameter (600 mm versus 550 mm). The tooth dimensions and holder seat geometry are not interchangeable between the two models. THOR 2.4 teeth must never be installed in THOR 3.0 holders and vice versa \u2014 the dimensional mismatch produces insecure seating that can cause teeth to eject during operation. Always confirm the specific THOR model (2.4 or 3.0) and generation when ordering replacement teeth through Korea Watanabe. Korea Watanabe maintains model-specific tooth inventory for both the THOR 2.4 and THOR 3.0 in Korean local stock.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nCan I use aftermarket non-Watanabe teeth to reduce cost?<\/summary>\n

Non-genuine aftermarket teeth for the THOR 2.4 are available from third-party Korean agricultural supply sources at prices typically 30\u201350% below genuine Watanabe teeth. However, the carbide grade, binder content, and hardness-to-toughness balance of generic aftermarket carbide teeth is not optimised for the Korean highland granite stone hardness profile and the THOR 2.4’s specific impact energy and rotor speed parameters. The consequence is typically either premature wear (if the aftermarket carbide is too soft) or premature chipping (if the carbide is too hard and brittle for impact resistance). Both failure modes increase cost per effective operating hour beyond the genuine tooth’s cost, negating the per-tooth price saving. Korea Watanabe recommends only genuine Watanabe replacement teeth for THOR 2.4 and THOR 3.0 operations and can confirm current stock availability and pricing at any time of year.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhat is the correct torque specification for installing replacement teeth?<\/summary>\n

THOR 2.4 tooth bolts require installation at the torque specification listed in the THOR 2.4 operator manual for the specific bolt size used in the relevant production generation of the machine. Over-torquing tooth bolts can crack the carbide insert or damage the holder seat thread; under-torquing produces loose tooth seating that allows micro-movement under impact loading, accelerating both the bolt thread wear and the holder seat surface wear. The correct torque value varies by THOR 2.4 production generation \u2014 Korea Watanabe confirms the correct torque value for your specific machine’s serial number at the time of tooth set supply. A calibrated torque wrench (not an impact wrench) is the required tool for tooth installation \u2014 impact wrench installation cannot reliably achieve the specified torque value and risks over-torquing.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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THOR 2.4 Tooth Sets \u2014 Korean Local Stock, Correct Specification, Fast Delivery<\/p>\n

THOR model (2.4 or 3.0) + machine serial number + number of teeth requiring replacement \u2192 genuine Watanabe tooth set availability confirmation and lead time. Korea Watanabe, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do.<\/p>\n

Kontaktieren Sie uns jetzt<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Herausgeber: Cxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THOR 2.4 Tooth Wear Monitoring \u2014 Practical Field Inspection Guide and Replacement Decision Framework for Korean Highland Operators Most THOR 2.4 tooth sets fail gradually \u2014 not all at once. The operator who inspects correctly can replace the worn teeth before output quality degrades, rather than discovering the problem when the spring preparation window has […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-application-and-technical-guid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=763"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":765,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763\/revisions\/765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}