Coast Guard Exams
Question 275General Subjects - QMED70% to pass

To safely remove the piston rod packing from the steam end of a reciprocating pump, you should _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is A) use a packing hook. To safely remove the piston rod packing from the steam end of a reciprocating pump, you should use a packing hook. This specialized tool is designed to grip and extract the old packing without damaging the piston rod or packing gland. Attempting to pry the packing loose with a scraper (option B) or blowing it out with the throttle valve (option C) could cause damage to the pump components. Option D is incorrect, as reciprocating pumps typically use packing, not O-rings, to seal the piston rod.