have used SRAM 9-speed chains for years and I have had no problem installing the chains and opening or closing the PowerLink connectors. The PowerLinks are easy to close and open and I've never had a problem with them.
I am (finally) upgrading my road bikes to 10-speed (yes, I'm a bit behind) and I'm trying to install a SRAM 10-speed chain (PC-1070) on the first bike to get converted and I can't seem to close the link (called a Power Lock on the 10-speed chains). You join the two ends of the chain with the Locks and pull the joined section apart to close it. I can't get the pins on the Lock to get very far on the slots that they are to slide in - not even halfway to the intended stop position. Fortunately, I can open it from there - just push the plates together and slide the Locks. However, opening is not the direction that I want to go in.
I thought that I might have a bad PowerLock so I opened another PC-1070 chain box and tried that PowerLock- no good , same problem. I also had a PC-1090 chain available and tried that. No joy there too.
The mechanism and method of use of the 10-speed PowerLock is exactly the same as on the 9-speed (in fact they include the exact same instruction sheet that comes with the 9-speed chains). Since I have a successful history with the 9-speed, I'm either doing something wrong with the 10-speed or there is some trick that I'm not aware of to closing the PowerLocks.
Anyone had the same problem?