Pulling wire

Planning the pull, making a good head, and getting it through without skinning the insulation.

Plan the pull

Check the fill first. If the run is over 40% (three or more conductors), it won't pull well, and it isn't allowed. Use the conduit fill calculator.
Feed from the end nearest the bends. Pulling tension multiplies through every bend, so you want the bends early in the pull, while the tension is still low.
Count the bends. No more than 360° between pull points. On long or bendy runs, add a pull box or plan to pull in two stages.
Stage the spools on a cart or dolly so they pay off freely, in the order they go on the head. Have a feeder at the spools on every pull bigger than a few wires.
Radio or phone between the feeder and the puller. Stop the moment anyone calls it.

Fish tape for short runs with few bends. Push from the end with the bends nearest you.
Vacuum or blower and a foam piston (mouse) pulls a string line through long runs and underground in seconds. Use mule tape or rated rope for the actual pull.
Pull a spare string in with the wire on runs where more conductors might be added later.
Clean out underground conduit with a mandrel or swab first if it might have water, mud or a crushed spot.

Strip the conductors back and stagger them, so the head tapers instead of making one big lump.
Loop each conductor through the eye of the fish tape or rope (or a pulling grip on large cable), folding the ends back.
Wrap the whole head tightly with electrical tape, starting on the wire and working forward, so no edge can catch on a coupling.
Tug-test the head before you start pulling.

Lube the head and keep lubing the conductors as they go in, not just the first few feet. Use a lubricant compatible with the insulation.
Jam ratio: with three conductors of the same size, the wires can wedge side by side in a bend when the conduit's inside diameter is about 2.8 to 3.2 times one conductor's outside diameter. Go up a conduit size or change the conductor arrangement if you land there.
Pull steady. Stopping and starting takes more force to break loose again than keeping it moving.

A rule of thumb used in industry: copper conductors pulled by the conductor should see no more than about 0.008 lb of tension per circular mil. The cable maker's data governs: check it for big pulls.
With a power puller, use rope rated well above the expected force and stay out of the rope's line. A snapping rope whips back hard.
Feed wire off the spool in a gentle curve into the conduit. Sharp bends at the mouth of the pipe skin insulation; use a feeding sheave or have the feeder guide it.

Leave at least 6 in of free conductor at each box, and at least 3 in sticking out past the face of boxes with an opening under 8 in.
Don't skin conductors on the edge of a box or a cut end of conduit: ream every cut, and use bushings where the code calls for them on 4 AWG and larger.
Identify conductors as you go: tag or tape each circuit at both ends.
Check insulation damage with a megohmmeter on feeders before you terminate.

NEC: Chapter 9 Table 1, 300.14, 300.4(G), 358.26