Unfortunately, in many cases you won’t be able to move the equipment, either because it’s too heavy or it’s permanently secured in place. If so, do your best to contort your body so that you can both see and reach the cable connection.
The old reminder, “righty tighty, lefty loosey”—that is, turn right (clockwise) to tighten and left (counterclockwise) to loosen a connection—is accurate only when you’re facing the connection.
A proper coaxial connection should be too tight to loosen by hand, but it’s worth a try! After all, even the right tool for the job can sometimes damage the connectors, while your hand can’t.
If the hex nut won’t budge with gentle torque, don’t try to force it by applying more. You’ll either break or deform the connector components. Search for a “cable wrench” online, or shop at a home improvement store or A/V equipment retailer.
Do not use traditional pliers (including needle-nose pliers), since the squeezing pressure will damage the connector. Most F-connector tools should do the job just fine, but a 7/16 in (11. 1 mm) cable wrench is at least as good and is more multi-functional around the house. If you use channel locks, grip the teeth over the hex nut as lightly as possible so that you don’t deform or damage the connector. F-connector is the technical name for a coaxial cable connector.
For this application, buy a squeeze bottle rather than a spray bottle of penetrating oil (also called penetrating lubricant) at the hardware store. Hold a towel beneath the coaxial connection while applying the penetrating oil if you’re worried about any dripping.
Check the package instructions for the ideal waiting time for your chosen penetrating oil. Generally speaking, though, longer is always better.
You’ll definitely be frustrated by this point—but don’t take it out on the hex nut! You’ll end up with a pricey repair or replacement cost if you snap the connector stub off of your A/V equipment.
Tightening a coaxial cable’s hex nut more than 1/8 of a turn with a cable wrench creates enough torque to deform or even snap off the connector stub. Keep this in mind when screwing on a connector—hand tighten it, then use a cable wrench for just a very small final tightening. [12] X Research source
Take the value of your A/V item into account. If you’re trying to get the cable off of an old DVD/VCR combo, it will most likely be cheaper to replace it (if you do break it) than to pay a cable tech or electrician to do the job. However, if you’re dealing with a $2,000 (USD) HDTV, don’t risk causing expensive damage.
