{"id":555,"date":"2026-05-22T07:33:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/?p=555"},"modified":"2026-05-22T07:33:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:33:47","slug":"blackbird-rock-rake-large-scale-stone-windrowing-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/blackbird-rock-rake-large-scale-stone-windrowing-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"BlackBird Kaya T\u0131rm\u0131\u011f\u0131 \u2014 Kore i\u00e7in B\u00fcy\u00fck \u00d6l\u00e7ekli Ta\u015f Y\u0131\u011f\u0131nlama"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BlackBird Rock Rake \u2014 Large-Scale Stone Windrowing for Korean Land Clearing Operations<\/h1>\n

9.5 metres wide. 300 HP minimum. Rear-hitch coupling for the THOR 3.0. When your operation outgrows the EP-EW-4000, this is the machine that covers 100+ hectares per season without a bottleneck.<\/p>\n

Discuss Large-Scale Clearing for Your Operation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The Watanabe stone rake range covers two distinctly different operational scales. The EP-EW-4000 (75 HP, 3.6 m working width) is the right tool for Korean family farm and small commercial operations: annual frost-heave maintenance on established potato and vegetable fields, pre-planting clearance on small ginseng plots, and orchard inter-row surface stone management. For these applications \u2014 typically below 50\u201380 hectares of annual stone clearance \u2014 the EP-EW-4000 delivers adequate throughput and operates on the same 75 HP tractor as the planting and cultivation equipment.<\/p>\n

The BlackBird Rock Rake is an entirely different scale of implement. At 9.5 metres working width \u2014 more than 2.6 times the EP-EW-4000’s working width \u2014 and with a 300 HP minimum tractor requirement and 1000 RPM PTO operation, the BlackBird is designed for large-scale land clearing contractors, agricultural development projects, government land improvement programs, and commercial farm operations above approximately 100 hectares of annual clearance. Its rear-hitch coupling system for the THOR 3.0 stone crusher \u2014 which allows both machines to operate simultaneously on one tractor \u2014 further distinguishes it as a system machine for maximum single-pass efficiency on large open terrain.<\/p>\n

This guide explains the BlackBird’s specifications, how its coupling system with the THOR 3.0 works, which Korean operations genuinely benefit from this scale of equipment, and how it fits within the broader Watanabe land clearing range alongside the EP-EW-4000 for the lower-scale applications.<\/p>\n

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BlackBird Rock Rake \u2014 Confirmed Specifications<\/h2>\n

\"Rock<\/p>\n

All BlackBird specifications from the Watanabe official product brochure:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
BLACKBIRD ROCK RAKE \u2014 TECHNICAL DATA<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00c7al\u0131\u015fma geni\u015fli\u011fi<\/td>\n9.5 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min. trakt\u00f6r g\u00fcc\u00fc<\/td>\n300 HP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PTO h\u0131z\u0131<\/td>\n1000 RPM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THOR 3.0 coupling<\/td>\nVia rear drawbar hitch (Drawbar Kit)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Combined system (BlackBird + THOR 3.0)<\/td>\nSingle tractor, single forward pass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Scale Context \u2014 BlackBird vs EP-EW-4000<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Parametre<\/th>\nEP-EW-4000<\/th>\nBlackBird<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00c7al\u0131\u015fma geni\u015fli\u011fi<\/td>\n3.6 m<\/td>\n9.5 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min. tractor HP<\/td>\n75 HP<\/td>\n300 HP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PTO h\u0131z\u0131<\/td>\n540 RPM<\/td>\n1000 RPM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coverage rate (est.)<\/td>\n1.2\u20132.0 ha\/h<\/td>\n3.5\u20136.0 ha\/h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THOR coupling?<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes \u2014 THOR 3.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ideal annual scale<\/td>\nUp to ~80 ha<\/td>\n100+ ha<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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The BlackBird + THOR 3.0 Coupling System \u2014 Single-Pass Rake-and-Crush<\/h2>\n

\"Rock<\/p>\n

The most operationally significant feature of the BlackBird is its rear hitch coupling system that allows the THOR 3.0 stone crusher<\/a> to be connected directly to the BlackBird’s rear frame \u2014 creating a combined three-machine single-pass operation: the BlackBird rakes stone windrows ahead, and the THOR 3.0 (towed behind the BlackBird, both pulled by the same 300+ HP tractor) crushes those windrows in the same forward movement.<\/p>\n

How the Coupling Works<\/h3>\n

The BlackBird’s rear frame includes a drawbar hitch point designed to accept the THOR 3.0’s Drawbar Kit connection. In this combined configuration:<\/p>\n

The 300+ HP tractor<\/strong> provides the motive force for all three components (tractor + BlackBird + THOR 3.0 in tow), PTO power at 1000 RPM for the BlackBird’s tine drive, and PTO power for the THOR 3.0’s rotor drive via the second PTO connection from the THOR’s own drive shaft running from the tractor rear PTO through the BlackBird’s frame.<\/p>\n

The BlackBird<\/strong> sweeps a 9.5 m wide strip of the field at each forward pass, concentrating surface stones and vegetation into windrows along the centreline of the swept strip \u2014 exactly where the THOR 3.0 will travel.<\/p>\n

The THOR 3.0<\/strong>, towed behind the BlackBird, encounters the concentrated windrow of stones that the BlackBird has deposited in the centre of the raked strip. Rather than processing dispersed surface stones \u2014 as the THOR 3.0 would do in standalone operation \u2014 it processes the concentrated windrow. This concentrated windrow processing approach is more efficient per unit of crushed stone volume than dispersed-surface processing: the THOR’s rotor contacts stone material continuously along the windrow centreline rather than intermittently across a dispersed surface.<\/p>\n

Coverage Rate of the Combined System<\/h3>\n

The combined BlackBird + THOR 3.0 system covers the BlackBird’s 9.5 m working width in a single forward pass. At a typical combined system working speed of 2.0\u20133.5 km\/h (slower than the BlackBird alone because the THOR 3.0’s working conditions \u2014 processing concentrated windrows \u2014 determine the forward speed), the theoretical pass coverage rate is 1.9\u20133.3 hectares per hour. Accounting for headland turns on open flat terrain \u2014 a 300 HP tractor with two large trailing implements requires significant headland clearance \u2014 productive daily coverage on a 10-hour working day is typically 15\u201325 hectares of cleared ground.<\/p>\n

For a land clearing contractor operating a 300-hectare seasonal contract, the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 combined system completes the rake-and-crush step in approximately 12\u201320 productive days (depending on stone density and field logistics). An EP-EW-4000 + THOR 2.4 combination on the same 300-hectare area would require approximately 40\u201360 days for equivalent coverage \u2014 the BlackBird system’s throughput advantage at large scale is substantial.<\/p>\n

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When the BlackBird Is the Right Choice \u2014 and When It Is Not<\/h2>\n

\"Rock<\/p>\n

The BlackBird IS the right tool for:<\/h3>\n

Large land clearing contractors with seasonal contracts above 100 ha.<\/strong> Korean land development contractors working government \ub18d\uc9c0 \uac1c\ub7c9 (farmland improvement) contracts, rural infrastructure projects, and large commercial land conversion projects routinely encounter contracts of 100\u2013500+ hectares of annual clearance. At this scale, the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 system’s daily coverage rate is the operational requirement \u2014 the EP-EW-4000 + THOR 2.4 combination simply cannot maintain the throughput needed to complete these contracts within seasonal timelines and contractor scheduling commitments.<\/p>\n

Large commercial farms above 100 ha clearing area.<\/strong> Korean commercial grain, potato, and vegetable farms at 100+ hectares of annual stone clearance requirement \u2014 concentrated in the plains of South Gyeongsang, the highland development zones of Gangwon-do, and the reclamation areas of Chungcheongnam-do \u2014 face the same throughput constraint as contractors. The narrow spring preparation window before planting requires that the full clearance area be completed within 3\u20134 weeks, which the BlackBird system can achieve on open terrain where the EP-EW-4000 combination cannot.<\/p>\n

Operations where a 300+ HP tractor is already in the equipment fleet.<\/strong> The BlackBird’s 300 HP minimum requirement means it is only practical for operations that already have a tractor of this power class, or that can justify a new tractor purchase at this power level based on total machine utilization. Adding the BlackBird to an existing 230 HP THOR 3.0 tractor fleet requires a tractor upgrade \u2014 the economics of that upgrade should be evaluated alongside the BlackBird’s productivity benefit.<\/p>\n

Open terrain with row lengths above 200 m.<\/strong> The combined BlackBird + THOR 3.0 system has a large turning envelope at headlands \u2014 the tractor pulling both a 9.5 m trailing rake and a 3.0 m stone crusher requires significant headland space. On fields with row lengths below approximately 150\u2013200 m, headland turning time represents an excessive fraction of total working time and reduces the effective coverage rate advantage of the BlackBird system versus smaller equipment. The BlackBird delivers its full efficiency advantage on large, open fields with long rows \u2014 not on terraced, irregularly shaped, or short-row highland fields.<\/p>\n

The BlackBird is NOT the right tool for:<\/h3>\n

Standard Korean family farm operations below 50 ha.<\/strong> For operations below approximately 50\u201380 hectares of annual clearance, the EP-EW-4000 (75 HP, 3.6 m) provides adequate throughput at dramatically lower capital cost, lower tractor HP requirement, and greater flexibility on the irregular, short-row terraced field geometries of Korean highland family farms. The BlackBird’s investment \u2014 including the 300 HP tractor requirement \u2014 is not justified by the throughput benefit at this scale.<\/p>\n

Orchard inter-row and narrow row applications.<\/strong> The BlackBird’s 9.5 m working width cannot enter orchard rows or narrow terrace field configurations. The EP-EW-4000 at 3.6 m is the appropriate rake for Korean orchard and narrow-row applications. No large-format rake can substitute for the EP-EW-4000 in these constrained-geometry applications.<\/p>\n

Operations on steeply sloped terrain.<\/strong> The BlackBird + THOR 3.0 combined system \u2014 a large tractor pulling approximately 13 metres of trailing equipment \u2014 requires substantially more turning radius and has different slope stability characteristics than a single tractor-implement combination. For operations on slopes above 15%, the more compact EP-EW-4000 + THOR 2.4 combination is more appropriate. The BlackBird’s efficiency advantage is specifically on open, relatively flat terrain with long row lengths.<\/p>\n

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The Complete Large-Scale System \u2014 BlackBird + THOR 3.0 + CT-2100<\/h2>\n

\"Stone<\/p>\n

For large-scale operations that require complete stone removal \u2014 not just crushing \u2014 the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 combined system produces crushed aggregate that is then collected by the CT-2100 ta\u015f toplay\u0131c\u0131<\/a> in a subsequent pass. The three-machine large-scale sequence:<\/p>\n

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PASS 1<\/div>\n

BlackBird (9.5 m) + THOR 3.0 (3.0 m) \u2014 Single Tractor, Single Pass<\/strong> \u2014 BlackBird rakes 9.5 m width into centreline windrows; THOR 3.0 crushes those windrows in the same forward movement. One pass covers 9.5 m width of fully raked-and-crushed field. Coverage: 3.5\u20136.0 ha\/h theoretical.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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PASS 2<\/div>\n

CT-2100 Rock Picker (110 HP)<\/strong> \u2014 Follows the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 pass to collect crushed stone fragments for complete removal. Multiple CT-2100 units can work in parallel on the same field section to maintain pace with the BlackBird system’s faster Pass 1 rate. Coverage: 0.8\u20131.0 ha\/h per CT-2100.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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NOTE<\/div>\n

The BlackBird + THOR 3.0 Pass 1 rate (3.5\u20136.0 ha\/h) significantly exceeds the CT-2100 Pick pass rate (0.8\u20131.0 ha\/h). For complete removal operations, plan for 4\u20136 CT-2100 operational days per BlackBird system day to maintain pace \u2014 or operate multiple CT-2100 units simultaneously on the area cleared by Pass 1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Tractor Requirements for the BlackBird System<\/h2>\n

The 300 HP minimum tractor requirement for the BlackBird combined system (BlackBird + THOR 3.0) reflects the combined power demand of both implements at working load. The breakdown:<\/p>\n

BlackBird alone:<\/strong> The BlackBird’s tine rake mechanism draws PTO power for its own drive system at 1000 RPM. The drawbar pull for towing the BlackBird at working speed and depth adds to the tractor’s tractive demand. 180\u2013230 HP would handle the BlackBird alone on most soil conditions.<\/p>\n

THOR 3.0 added:<\/strong> The THOR 3.0 requires 230 HP minimum for its own rotor operation at 1000 RPM PTO. With the BlackBird drawing a portion of the tractor’s PTO output simultaneously, the minimum tractor HP for the combined system rises above the THOR 3.0’s standalone 230 HP requirement. The 300 HP minimum for the combined system provides adequate power for both implements to operate at full rated performance simultaneously without power-starving either machine.<\/p>\n

Compatible 300+ HP tractors in the Korean commercial sector: John Deere 8R series (8R 280, 8R 310); New Holland T8 series; Case IH AFS Quadtrac (where large-scale open terrain makes articulated tractor appropriate); Fendt 900 Vario series (930\u2013936 Vario); CLAAS AXION 900 series. These are large-format agricultural tractors not commonly found in Korean family farming operations \u2014 the BlackBird system is specifically for professional contractor and large-scale commercial operations with appropriate equipment. Confirm the specific tractor model’s rear PTO capacity and drawbar rating for combined front-and-rear implement operation before configuring the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 system.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For Most Korean Operations \u2014 The EP-EW-4000 Is the Right Rock Rake<\/h2>\n

This guide would be incomplete without a clear statement: the majority of Korean agricultural stone rake applications are correctly served by the EP-EW-4000 rock rake<\/a> (75 HP, 3.6 m), not the BlackBird. The scale of Korean family farms and mid-size commercial operations \u2014 typically 2\u201350 hectares of annual stone clearance \u2014 is precisely the range where the EP-EW-4000’s lower HP requirement, lower cost, greater terrain flexibility, and compatibility with Korean highland field geometry makes it the appropriate choice.<\/p>\n

The BlackBird’s 300 HP requirement and large working width are advantages only when the operational scale, field geometry, and seasonal throughput requirements genuinely require them. Purchasing a BlackBird for an operation below 100 hectares annual clearance results in a machine that is underutilized relative to its capital cost and that requires a tractor larger than the rest of the operation’s equipment fleet requires. Purchasing an EP-EW-4000 for an operation above 100 hectares annual clearance results in a throughput bottleneck that prevents completing the seasonal clearing program within the available weather window.<\/p>\n

The correct selection boundary between EP-EW-4000 and BlackBird is approximately 80\u2013120 hectares of annual stone rake clearing area on open terrain \u2014 with field geometry, row length, terrain slope, and available tractor HP all influencing where exactly the transition is economically justified for a specific operation. Korea Watanabe can assist with this throughput analysis based on your specific field parameters and seasonal clearance requirements.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions \u2014 BlackBird Rock Rake<\/h2>\n
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\nCan the BlackBird operate without the THOR 3.0 coupling \u2014 as a standalone rake only?<\/summary>\n

Yes \u2014 the BlackBird operates as a standalone large-scale stone rake without the THOR 3.0 coupling. In standalone mode, it rakes 9.5 m width into windrows for subsequent collection by a CT-2100 rock picker or manual collection. The 300 HP tractor requirement applies in standalone mode because the BlackBird’s own PTO drive and drawbar load at 9.5 m working width requires that power regardless of whether the THOR 3.0 is coupled. Standalone BlackBird operation is used on fields where windrow formation for manual or mechanical collection is the intended outcome, without on-site stone crushing \u2014 for example, on fields where the stone population is below the crusher’s benefit threshold or where the cleared stone will be sold as aggregate and therefore should not be crushed to fine size before collection.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nCan the BlackBird work on the same fields as a 75 HP tractor-based EP-EW-4000 on a separate pass?<\/summary>\n

Yes \u2014 on large operations that have both machines, the BlackBird covers the open flat sections of the field at high speed while the EP-EW-4000 handles the terraced, sloped, or narrow-row sections that the BlackBird cannot enter efficiently. This complementary operation approach is used by Korean land clearing contractors who maintain both machines for different field geometry requirements. The EP-EW-4000 produces windrows that the CT-2100 then picks from in the same section; the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 combined system operates on the open sections simultaneously. Coordinating both systems on the same large mixed-terrain project maximises total daily cleared area while ensuring that neither machine is deployed on terrain where it underperforms relative to its capital cost.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhat government contract types in Korea generate demand for BlackBird-scale equipment?<\/summary>\n

Korean government programs that generate large-scale agricultural land clearance contracts include: \ub18d\uc9c0 \uac1c\ub7c9 (farmland improvement) programs that convert former scrubland, orchard remnants, and abandoned agricultural land to active production; rural infrastructure development programs that create new field access and improve field geometry on existing agricultural land; post-natural disaster reconstruction programs that clear land damaged by flooding, landslide, or windstorm; and provincial-level development zone projects that convert rural land to agricultural use in designated development areas. These programs are typically contracted through county government procurement processes (\uad70 \ubc1c\uc8fc \uacf5\uc0ac) and bid by construction and agricultural contracting companies. Korea Watanabe can provide technical documentation and project reference information to support contractor bid submissions for these program categories.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nHow long does the BlackBird’s working width (9.5 m) remain usable when stones are raked into windrows \u2014 is there a field width minimum?<\/summary>\n

The BlackBird rakes stones across its 9.5 m working width into a centreline windrow that the THOR 3.0 then processes. This means the maximum stone travel distance from any point in the swept width to the centreline windrow is approximately 4.75 m (half the working width). Stones that are too heavy to be moved 4.75 m by the tine force \u2014 above approximately 60\u201380 Kg for most tine configurations \u2014 will be deflected by the tine rather than transported to the centreline. On fields with large embedded boulders above this threshold, the BlackBird’s windrowing effectiveness for those specific stones is reduced \u2014 they must be processed separately by the THOR 3.0 in a dedicated pass rather than via windrow concentration. The BlackBird is most effective as a concentration rake for moderate to heavy surface stones rather than as a substitute for the THOR crusher on boulder-heavy terrain.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nIs the BlackBird in Korea local stock, or is it an import-order item?<\/summary>\n

Contact Korea Watanabe directly for current BlackBird stock status. Due to the BlackBird’s size and specialized application \u2014 a machine for operations above 100 ha that represents a smaller number of total Korean purchases than the EP-EW-4000 or THOR series \u2014 local stock levels vary seasonally and are confirmed on enquiry. For large contract projects with specific delivery timeline requirements, we recommend initiating the stock confirmation and ordering process at least 8\u201312 weeks before the intended field deployment date. For EP-EW-4000 and THOR series machines, local stock in Ansan-si enables 1\u20133 day delivery; the BlackBird’s specific stock status should be confirmed directly before assuming equivalent availability.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

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Operating Above 100 ha Per Season? Let’s Discuss the BlackBird System.<\/p>\n

Tell us your annual clearing area, field row lengths, terrain slope, available tractor HP, and whether you need crushing only or complete stone removal \u2014 we confirm whether the BlackBird + THOR 3.0 system or the EP-EW-4000 + THOR 2.4 combination is the right scale for your Korean operation.<\/p>\n

Hemen bizimle ileti\u015fime ge\u00e7in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

BlackBird Rock Rake \u2014 Large-Scale Stone Windrowing for Korean Land Clearing Operations 9.5 metres wide. 300 HP minimum. Rear-hitch coupling for the THOR 3.0. When your operation outgrows the EP-EW-4000, this is the machine that covers 100+ hectares per season without a bottleneck. Discuss Large-Scale Clearing for Your Operation The Watanabe stone rake range covers […]<\/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-555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-application-and-technical-guid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=555"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":557,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555\/revisions\/557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rock-crusher-tractor.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}