This would seem to be a very simple task yet this is one of the most frequently asked technical questions about the Impulse believe it or not. I hear of people using vice grips, putting it in a vice, purchasing a $20 tool or substitute tools of a similar design and still can't remove the hammer. All you really need is a few tools, some Loctite and a few common household articles to remove it quick and easy:

• Remove the ram housing from the bottom tube of the body with a 7/8" open end wrench or adjustable wrench. 
• Use the wrench and a 3/16" allen wrench to separate the back cap from the ram housing.
• Remove the o-ring just inside the back of the ram housing and put it in a safe place.
• Put just enough water in a small pan to cover the hammer when submerged and boil it on your stove. Don't put the hammer in the water while boiling it.
• Once it starts to boil, turn it off. Extend the ram and hammer assembly and submerge the hammer standing up in the boiled water as shown above for approximately 3-5 minutes. Be sure that the external plastic bumper is not in the hot water. This will easily heat the red Loctite enough to separate the hammer from the ram. You'll know the Loctite is melted enough by the distinctive smell it emits.
• Using a rubber glove or similar to grasp the hot hammer with, put the short end of a 1/8" allen wrench in the opposite end of the ram and turn them appart. If you have any difficulty at all, boil the water again and repeat the last step once more.
• Remove the ram from the housing. There will be an internal plastic bumper inside. Put the internal and external bumpers in a safe place so not to lose them.

NOTE: If this is an older Imp, you may consider putting all new o-rings in the ram and ram housing while you have everything appart. There is 1 at the back of the ram and 1 in the front end of the ram housing. They both have the same inner diameter but the one in the end of the ram housing has a slightly smaller outside diameter. If you're installing the New Designz Slik-Shot ram, both o-rings are the ones with the smaller outside diameter. If you have them handy, you may consider changing the bumpers as well if the parts are easily available for you.

• Clean and lubricate the inside of the ram housing.
• Lube the o-ring on the ram and reinstall it into the ram housing and don't forget the smaller of the 2 bumpers on the inside and the larger on the outside.
• Take a rag and some alcohol and clean the threads of the ram getting as much of the old Loctite off as possible. Use a Q-Tip dipped in alcohol and clean the inside threads of the hammer.
• You can use blue or red Loctite and put a drop or two on the threads of the ram then screw it tightly into the hammer. If you use blue and have properly cleaned the threads of both parts, it will hold well and be a little easier to separate next time you do this. Clean any excess Loctite that may be left on the ram and hammer.
• Wait 12 - 24 hours for the Loctite to cure completely before you lube everything up and put the assembly back into your Impulse. If you don't, chances are the hammer will start to turn its way off of the ram some time in the near future.

For further info on lubricating the ram housing assembly, you may consider looking through the Impulse cleaning and field stripping article in the SPPS tech section.

Technical Information