A method releases rotor poles of a large electrical machine from the rotor hub, which in the fitted state is located within the stator. In one method step, at least one device is introduced into the air gap between the sector and a rotor pole to be released. The device has a carrier plate and at least one cushion that can be filled with gas and is attached to the carrier plate. In a following method step, the cushions belonging to the device are filled with gas under pressure, the pressure being successively increased until the pole to be released has come away, and in that, in a following method step, the at least one device is removed from the air gap. In a further step, the released pole is pulled out of the rotor hub.