Even having replaced my hoses a few years back, the recent ones were a bugger to get off. Rather than chance damaging the core/tubes, I say just slit them. From my experience you have to slit them pretty hard and deep to damage the tubes. Even if you take off an inch or two you still may have enough hose to reconnect in the future if you want to reuse that hose, but unless its new, hose is cheap.
Bill
