Red Seal Plumbing Practice Exam

If a pipe wrench fails to operate with a normal ratchet-like action, what is the likely cause?

1. The jaw is broken

2. The handle is bent

3. The spring is worn out

4. The adjustment nut is too tight

The correct answer is: The spring is worn out

If a pipe wrench fails to operate with a normal ratchet-like action, the likely cause is that the spring is worn out. The spring provides the ratchet-like action in a pipe wrench, so if it is worn out, the wrench will not work properly. Option A, the jaw being broken, would result in the wrench not being able to grip onto the pipe at all. Option B, the handle being bent, may also affect the functionality of the wrench but would not directly cause it to fail to operate like a ratchet. Option D, the adjustment nut being too tight, may be a possible cause but it would result in the wrench being difficult to adjust, not necessarily affecting the ratchet-like action. Therefore, option C is the best answer as it directly addresses the malfunction of the wrench's ratchet-like mechanism.