In an apparatus for pulling off sleeves (11, 14) which are applied to cylinders (10, 15) of a printing press, a force for pulling off the sleeve is applied in a gentle manner, in that a retaining rod (5), having a retaining head (1) which can be fixed to the sleeve (11, 14), and a hammer weight which can be moved along the rod (5) between stops (7, 9) are provided.