I've sprayed it with loads of GT85, wiggled it, sprayed it some more, flexed it, squeezed it, pushed it, pulled it and got completely pissed of with it, so anyone got any more ideas?

Thanks

Give it a good clean then use a chain hook to give yourself some slack in the chain, then gently push the link against itself .............. jobs a good un.

tis all down to technique, rather like unhooking a ladies bra, practice makes perfect ;)

I sympathise Alex. Just when I thought I'd got the things sussed one refused to budge - until I made a U with the chain and gave it a diagonal squeeze with mole grips. :) You might need a new one after though. :( Dropping the chain off the outside of the chainset and taking the back wheel out gives you lots of slack.

If you've some needle nose pliers, you can sometimes get purchase in the appropriate gaps in the chain and force them together.

Alternatively, the 'diagonal squeeze with molegrips' technique championed by Monsieur Gourette does work. Just make sure you're squeezing the right diagonal - otherwise you'll just crush it.

I got bored and just took a chain spiltter to it..., I'm sticking on a new one (going 9spd) so I'll see if this one os any easier, if not, I'll go back to the big S...

I find if you gently ease it back and forth a few times it lossens up until it pops apart with little effort

I dislike Powerlinks and only use them as emergency spares. But when I do need to get them apart I'd use 4AM's needle-nosed pliers.

Regular cleaning and not letting the crap build up in the opening holes helps hell of a lot. Using a dry lube helps this even further.
Failing that the easing back and forth works.