I have a Fossil analog / date watch and need to remove a couple of links. The arrows on each link point in opposite directions. I tryed pulling the ends the respective directions to no success

you will need some sort of tool for a pin pusher to actually remove the pin from watch . It can be a strong needle of some sorts but I suggest getting an actual pin pusher to prevent from damaging the watch or hurting yourself.

if you look inside the watch band itself you will see on the links an arrow pointing one direction. That is the direction you need to push the pin since the pin head is larger and cannot be pushed the opposite direction .

On the side of the watch links you will see a small circle endented with a pin head. That is the link pin. Place your pin pusher or other similar sized object and with a small or jeweler hammer slowly and lightly hit the pin pusher down until pin comes out of opposite side , you can use tweezers or needle nose pliers to pull pin all the way out

There are some pin removers that screw also or just push down to pop pin .

Once out repeat process until you have removed enough links that watch fits comfortably. Then slide pins with head of pin entering the side where the arrow on back of link is pointing to. Once all the way in gently hammer rest of pin till flush with link .

Turn your watch on its side so the links are vertical. On the inside of the links closest to the clasp you can see arrows, which point in the direction that the pins must be pushed out. Only about four links on either side of the clasp have arrows, because these are the only links with removable pins. On the edge of the links on the opposite end from where the arrow is pointing you will see a small circle where the pin is inserted.

Place the tip of your pointed tool on the small circle mentioned in Step 1. Push downward on the pin in the direction the arrow is pointing. Once the pin starts to come out of the link, use your fingertips or a pair of tweezers to completely remove the pin from the link. You may need to use force, but be careful not to scratch your watchband. Use a pointed tool from a jeweler's or hobby kit or watch pin removal tool.

Slide the links apart where you removed the pin so there is a gap in the watchband. Slide your new link into the gap and fit the neighboring links into the new link so it matches the rest of the watchband.

Insert the new pin into the watchband. You will need to insert two pins, the pin you removed in Step 2 and your new pin, into the two empty pin holes. You need to insert the pin small end first so the larger pin head does not pass through the link. Insert the pin against the direction of the arrow rather than in the direction the arrow is pointing like you did in Step 2. Use your pointed tool and your fingertips to push the pins completely in the links until the pin head is flush with the edge of the link.

Depending on the age of the watch you will see indicators of pin direction on the inside of the band. Little arrows that point the direction the pins should come out. If there are no arrows you can look at the edge of the band. You are looking for a split in the pin that makes it look like a screw. The opposite side will be solid. You want to push on the side that is solid so the side that looked split comes out. This is a cotter pin and the split side is bigger and needs to come out first. Use a small punch to push the pins out. Make sure you take links from the band evenly on either side.

Are you pushing the links in the same direction as the arrow is pointing? If so, are you using a tool specifically made for removing watch links? If the answer to both of the above is "yes" then look closely at your watch. The pin will look different on both sides. One side will look like the head of a "screw" and the other will look rounded and just come to a point. You always want to use the watch link remover tool on the ROUNDED end and push the "screw" looking end out. It could be that your watch was assembled w/the pin facing the wrong direction.

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Those arrows inside of the watch band are showing direction for pins or clips to come out. If you have two arrows in opposite directions on one link, that means there are two pins or clips and each one must be extracted from arrow pointing side.
If there is only one arrow on the link- there is only one clip or pin and must be extracted the arrow pointing way.
Some watch bands are held together by very specificly made clips or pins. In this case you will need a special tool to extract them.

That means you can take the links out either way. Take a small pin that fits in the hole and lightly tap on the pin. If you find you have problems, add a LITTLE oil in the whole, this should make it easier, though a little messy.

You need a small, (smaller than the pin hole) punch to force the pins out of the band. Since the arrows point in both directions you can push from either direction. Push enough of the pin out to be able to grasp it with a pair of small pliers and remove it. Do that on both sides of the link, replace the extra with a small hammer and you're done.

Sarvadrk

Some of the links are removable on this watch & some are not. Look inside the band you should see some tiny arrows on the removeable links. You need to push the pin through in the direction of the arrows & remove the link. Then to put the band back together you need push the pin through in the opposite direction of the arrow. Make sure the widest part to the pin goes in last or it won't fit.

look at the arrows, then get a thumbtack and a small hammer and a thick cloth. then put the pin in according to the arrows. start tapping it with a hammer, dont tap it all the way out, just enough so you can pull it out with a pair of pliers.hope this helps!

Just take a tiny little jewelery screw driver small enough to fit in the pin hole and tap it with anything that you can find. Then pull out other end. Look for arrows indicating which way to remove pin and go in that direction Some pins are like a hairpin and have a split at one end. Replace solid end first opposite of arrow direction. If there are arrows in both directions on the same link; like Fossil for instance, that means that it doesn't matter which direction the pins are removed or replaced. They are solid and they can go back either end first. It's easy. To get the pin in all the way I just used the little screw driver and tapped it in. Good luck.