Legato in opening of Brahms 116/7

[rosejaune177]

Hi, I'm about to learn the final Capriccio from Brahms' op. 116, but I'm struggling to see how to achieve legato in the opening bars. Maybe it's my small hand span. I just can't hold from the first crotchet to the second using the fingering that appears in most editions (as above) - it feels too stretchy. I can go to a 5-2-1 on the chord if I cover with pedal. Then I have the same problem in the LH, but most editions don't put pedal there... Would it be okay to just pedal every crotchet, and use whichever fingering I find least difficult, even at the expense of finger legato? Can anyone advise me please? 

[lelle]

Is it playing a sixth with 5-2 that is stretchy?

Honestly, you can just slide your thumb from the last sixteenth note to the bottom/top note of the chord and practice until it sounds legato. You can create the illusion with a minimum of pedal. Is it possible for you to play the chord with 1-2-4 in the right hand?