Originally Posted by
robtown
I guess I have to take my dura-ace chain back for a refund - the box didn't have a master link or extra pins so I used a chain tool. I hate master links - for some reason I cannot get them to work. The first one I tried took an hour.
New Shimano chains have a pin partially inserted in one end that is used to join the chain initially. You have to be very careful not to shorten the chain from that end when sizing it.
They also come with an extra replacement pin in the box, at least they used to, and it was easy to discard accidentally if you weren't careful.