Originally Posted by
Bezalel
The PowerLock will be on to tight for hand removal, you will need a pliers for removal. The correct tool is a Master Link Pliers but it can be done with needle nose pliers. Although the PowerLock link is officially for one-time use only, others will tell you that it is safe to reuse.
Huh. I've had no problems reusing the SRAM master links multiple times. I don't recall that they were one-time-use. The KMC master links, on the other hand,
are one-time-use. Mine are on 9-speed systems, though.
FWIW: in order to remove by hand, try cleaning out the link with WD-40. It helps to get the built-up gunk out of the way before manipulating the link.