Providing the chain is the proper length, and I jack up one wheel so I can spin the bottom part of the drive chain very tight leaving all the slack on top. Can a master link then be installed on a new drive chain for a 863 Bobcat, without pulling the gear and axle?
Yup. Weld retainer on.
anything is possible. press the link together and tack if absolutely nessesary. i recently ran across a set of chains with broken masterlinks, that had been drilled out, and fully welded. my theory is the heat made the link pins brittle. :drinkup