johnsironsanctuary: Right after I sent you the message, went back out to the shop to see if the PB Blaster had freed up the screw that I assume is holding the worm gear in the body of the wrench. Backed out the screw as far as it would go for the moment and now the teeth or cogs on the jaw and the grooves of the worm gear line up mucho better and the wrench functions pretty well. Happy with that development, I then got out the propane torch and tried to heat the "altered" area of the handle up. This didn't work as well. By the time I got wrench out of the vise and onto an area where I could do some ball peen or blacksmith hammer and cold chisel work-what heat I had (which was nowhere near enough anyway) had gone.
I am thinking about a forge again. In any case sorry to rattle your cage for what turns out to be no reason. Thanks for your reply.
Mike H.