From the beginning, I have been shooting a SXS for a while now and a month ago I decided to buy an 870 for waterfowl hunting. I shot some sporting clays with it and discovered that I shoot much better than with the SXS. Seems the 870 shoots where I look, so I decided to trade in my SXS and bought a new 1187 as it points just like the 870 and I can use my extended chokes from the 870 as well. After taking the 1187 apart a few times I have noticed on assembly the link will not stay inserted in the spring follower, so I hold it in place and insert the bolt and carrier then the trigger group. Is this OK or will I eventually damage something. All the instructions that I have read says install the trigger group first then the bolt and carrier.

Thanks

when not in the spring follower the link should, while at rest, have a pretty big gap between the two spring ends......1/2" or so.
If it does not then it is sprung and you will probably be best served to order a new link.
Meanwhile grab it up and pull the ends apart so that you then have to squeeze it together to get it in the spring follower.

I do have to squeeze it together to get it in the follower and the gap for the hammer is there. It has so much pressure it won't stay in the follower if the gun is bumped unless the carrier is in the way. If I squeeze the link and put the end in the follower then put the trigger group in and bump it or tap the pins for the trigger group in, the link pops out of the follower. So I have been holding it then installing the bolt and bolt carrier first then the trigger group.

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk

well...dang that rascal!!
It sounds like it is fine and function correctly so I do not think by using it you will harm the gun in any way and assembling it the way you mention should not hurt anything either.
Is this a new gun?
The ends on the link may not be to specs?

Yes new yesterday, only tried it to function test. Will shoot a few rounds of clays on Saturday.

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk

Try keeping the muzzle end tilted up.