Thank you for your detailed response

To clarify - the tools in question are the special tools

one concern I have is the master link plates on the IWIS chain I bought do not push on by hand - leading to concern on my part that when I try to install the middle plate and the end plate I may be more likely to drop them without the high dollar press tool... what are your thoughts on that ?

THe other thing is I cannot seem to find the temporary master link with the removable spring clip that is used to temporarily connect the old and new chains... do you know of a workaround for that ?

thanks again