Questions and Answers for Orbit 5/8 in. to 3/4 in. Heavy-Duty Zinc Female Hose-Coupling Repair Mender Hose and Sprinkler Repair

A:  It appears to be. 

A:  Don't know. A normal user is not in the position to find out about the content of the metal components. Have to find this information from the manufacturer.

A:  Turns, yes. Freely, not so much.

A:  This is only designed to work with a standard garden hose.

A:  I don't understand your question. The black washer in the female end is to seal to the hose

A:  It is part of the mender. It's what keeps the water from seeping past the threads which can result in leakage and even spraying of water.

A:  It is just for packaging. Cut off and throw away.

A:  If you are talking about the hard plastic washer that keep the hard plastic piece that runs through the piece on the unit, no it is not part of the mender. The hard washer is used to keep the unit in one piece. Yes the unit comes with the usual soft washer used to seal the hose to the hose bib (your home water spigot). The washer part keeps the soft washer from being separated/removed/stolen off the part. In this day and age, people seem to steal things unless they are nailed down. This hard plastic washer is part of the proverbial "nail".

A:  It is just for packing. Discard it. Great product,