When I replaced mine, I just twisted and pulled it a little and it came out. Also, instead of buying E-Flites carbon boom or anything else made of carbon (rod/tube) on the Blade, just buy it from the carbon stock. My LHS has a stock of different size carbon rod, tubes, and others. I just took the boom still in the package and found one that will work. End result - 2 booms for a little less than the price of one.