Be VERY carefull when stripping. I was stripping my #1 wire with using a 10 guage size stripper and still caught the metal coil that spirals down the inside of the cord. It pulled out about 4 inches of metal, JUST enough for it to not fit. Lukily I was able to make another chord with the extra one supplied. I wanted to be extra carefull, so I used a very sharp knife instead. I bent the wire over so there is tension pulling the rubber apart when I gently go over it with a knife. I did the same for the white rubber on the inside too. I didn't want to f-up any more wires, so I did the rest like this.

 

What he said. Dont strip all the way, just cut two or three times so you get the outer rubber cut in. then pull it off the middle. Saves frustration