Shortening a Shimano HG53 chain by a couple of links

Crayfish

I am struggling to shorten my Shimano HG53 chain by just two links. I am using a standard chain tool and getting to a point where the pin just won't budge and I cannot tighten the tool any more. Feels like it's not meant to come out.

The instruction paper talks about not breaking the chain at the wrong pin - a "re-inforced connecting pin" or an "end pin" - but at "some other place". In the diagram the only other type of pin is a "link pin". To my eye, all the pins look exactly the same, except for the main connecting pin. Therefore I am trying to break the chain at the correct length by removing a pin, which looks the same as all the other pins...

Does anyone have any advice please?

Crayfish

OK - I have discovered the solution for anyone who may have the same experience: brute force.

I got so hacked off with this stupid job that I put a long tube over each handle of the chain tool to increase my leverage, then just went for it. At first i thought I had definitely damaged the chain, then suddenly it went plop and out came the pin! It's reconnected now and seems to be fine.

dhxcme

newish chains can be a bit tight on the links but this will soon stop being the case when you've rode them in a bit.