I genuinely can't think of an easy way to get the pin in without crushing the link - if you had a spare inner link you could perhaps put into the gap (X) to support the plates and stop them being bent/crushed - and gently try and tap the pin through with a hammer ?
Right ! You need a chain tool ! :)
I genuinely can't think of an easy way to get the pin in without crushing the link - if you had a spare inner link you could perhaps put into the gap (X) to support the plates and stop them being bent/crushed - and gently try and tap the pin through with a hammer ?