Just had the thermocouple go out on my whirlpool water heater, after moving in 5 years ago. I had no idea about the left handed threads, so I was pretty steamed when I got to the last step of screwing it in and it wouldn't thread! Of course, lowes or Home Depot only had universal threaded thermocouples. I was able to use my Drexel to make the cut and put the nut on the new wire, just like you said. Everything works, and we have hot water now instead of having to wait on a part from whirlpool. Thanks for posting this!