CMRT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMRT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is a key concept in preventive and predictive maintenance? → Routine checks and early detection
2. What is a key concept in troubleshooting and analysis? → Routine checks and early detection
3. What is the primary goal of maintenance practices? → To extend equipment life and reliability
4. After corrective maintenance on a chain drive, which parameter directly determines the correct chain tension adjustment? → Manufacturer-specified sag measurement for the chain span length
5. Which type of coupling is most tolerant of shaft misalignment while still transmitting torque? → Flexible elastomeric coupling
6. What is the purpose of using shims under machine feet during precision alignment? → To make fine vertical position corrections and eliminate soft foot conditions
7. A motor drawing significantly higher current than its nameplate rating MOST likely indicates: → Mechanical overload, bearing failure, or an electrical fault in the windings
8. What is the purpose of an EP (Extreme Pressure) additive in a gear lubricant? → To chemically react with metal surfaces under high load to prevent welding and scuffing
9. When performing corrective maintenance on a gearbox, technicians find metal particles in the oil. What is the BEST initial diagnostic step? → Perform oil analysis and inspect a magnetic drain plug sample to identify particle type
10. Which electrical safety standard governs safe work practices for electrical installations in general industry, including maintenance activities? → NFPA 70E — Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
11. What is a key concept in preventive and predictive maintenance? → Routine checks and early detection
12. Which root cause analysis tool uses a series of 'why' questions to drill down to the underlying cause of an equipment failure? → 5 Whys analysis
13. Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) is primarily used to detect which category of faults? → Rotor bar defects, eccentricity, and load variations
14. Wear particle analysis in oil shows an increase in large (>15 µm) ferrous particles with a cutting wear morphology. What does this indicate? → Severe adhesive or abrasive wear in progress
15. Which vibration measurement transducer type is most appropriate for measuring absolute shaft displacement in sleeve (journal) bearing machines? → Eddy-current proximity probe
16. In a risk assessment matrix, a hazard rated 'Likely' for probability and 'Catastrophic' for severity would typically be classified as: → High or critical risk — requires immediate corrective action before work proceeds
17. During an infrared inspection of a steam trap, which thermal condition indicates a failed-open (blowing) steam trap? → High inlet temperature with similar high outlet temperature
18. What is the primary goal of maintenance practices? → To extend equipment life and reliability
19. A corrective maintenance job is considered officially complete when: → Equipment is confirmed to be operating at its required performance level
20. Which nondestructive testing (NDT) method uses sound waves at frequencies typically between 0.5 and 25 MHz to measure wall thickness and detect internal flaws? → Ultrasonic testing (UT)
21. What is the primary advantage of using synthetic lubricants over conventional mineral oils in high-temperature applications? → Synthetic oils offer better oxidation stability and wider operating temperature ranges
22. What is the primary goal of maintenance practices? → To extend equipment life and reliability
23. What is a key concept in equipment reliability? → Routine checks and early detection
24. Backlog management in a corrective maintenance program primarily involves: → Managing and prioritizing the list of pending maintenance work orders
25. What does a rising trend of iron (Fe) particles in an oil analysis report most likely indicate? → Wear occurring in iron or steel components such as gears, bearings, or cylinder walls
26. A rotating shaft shows 0.012 inches of radial runout when measured with a dial indicator. Per standard corrective maintenance practice, this reading should be: → Compared against the equipment manufacturer's acceptable tolerance specification
27. What does the term 'tribology' refer to in the context of maintenance? → The study of friction, wear, and lubrication between interacting surfaces
28. A recurring bearing failure on a conveyor drive is BEST addressed by: → Investigating root causes such as lubrication adequacy, alignment, or overloading
29. Which maintenance KPI measures the proportion of time maintenance technicians spend on direct work tasks versus total available hours? → Craft utilization (or labor utilization)
30. A 'waterfall plot' (cascade plot) in vibration analysis is used primarily to: → Show frequency spectra stacked over time or speed to reveal trends