Abstract: An improved adjustable wrench includes a worm gear which is releasably held in a gear cavity in the frame of the wrench by a retaining assembly. The retaining assembly includes a pair of pin or plunger members. During normal use of the wrench, the plunger members project outwardly from opposite ends of an axially extending cavity in the worm gear to support the worm gear for rotation about its central axis. When the wrench is to be disassembled, one of the plunger members is pressed into the cavity in the worm gear and the other plunger member is pressed into a cavity in the frame of the wrench. The worm gear can then be moved sidewardly out of the gear cavity. When the wrench is to be reassembled, one of the plungers is telescoped back into the cavity in the worm gear while the other plunger is pressed into the cavity in the frame of the wrench. The worm gear is then inserted into the gear cavity and the plungers are released.