Originally Posted by RockyMtnMerlin
I also bought an inexpensive tool that looks like a big spring that holds the chain ends together while I do this and it makes it even easier.
You can make something very similar from a piece of coat hangar wire at no cost. Take a piece of wire about 5" long, bend it into a shallow "U" shape and then bend about 1/2" at each end inward to form hooks. It is a very useful tool for any chain installation job.