so i'm trying to add a link to a chain and i cannot for the life of me get the rivet to go in. i mean, i can barely get it to go partially in, and when i do it's crooked and i'm afraid to force it in. this is the last thing i need for my conversion, and it's taking far too much effort. advice/tips/etc.?

i dunno.. it helps to have somebody help, get everything lined up on a table and tap the pin in with a punch.. or use pliars to squeez the pin in a little and then straighten it out gently before useing the tool.

just suck it up and use a chain tool

don't remove the pin all the way next time

if you do get it in and the links are stiff there (probably will be), gently bend the chain back and forth perpendicular to the direction the chain naturally bends. gently. sometimes that will loosen it up.

Let this be a lesson never to add links.

lesson learned. today is not my day, though. i lost the most important link... tomorrow i search the driveway/garage/other places for it. wish me luck.