Success breaking Case 455C track

Thanks again to all who contributed their ideas. I was able to make a tool, as described here, from a 5/8" thick railroad track plate, cut down to fit over the master-link. I rubbed a lumber crayon over a piece of paper feedbag to transfer the positions of the holes and so forth onto the paper, and then drilled two clearance holes and two tapped 1/2 x 20. Thought sure the tap would break; toughest tapping job I've ever attempted.

I ruined a couple of grade 5 bolts shoving the links apart, but it worked to start things moving. A 3lb hammer and a bar of old soft iron finished the job.

We'll be back on "track" again soon. Thanks again!

Success breaking Case 455C track