I was able to install the bolt and the key pad pretty well. The bold slides very smoothly back and forth. But when I install the motor part (that part of the lock that’s inside the house), the turning mechanism is very grainy, scratchy and stiff. I thought maybe it would break in with time. But after I sign into the App to add the device, it doesn’t get past the testing part because the bolt won’t slide closed. I think its straining the motor. Yes, when I close the door and the bolt without the back plate, its very smooth. But even just testing the back plate manually, I can clearly tell it feels jammed up and stiff. I don’t see any place to make adjustments on this backplate which is clearly the problem here. Any advice from those of you that have installed it?
@montemontemayor It sounds like you’re experiencing some common installation issues with the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the grainy and stiff turning mechanism:
-
Check for Interference: Open the battery cover and knob cover, then remove the battery. Rotate the knob quickly to see if it is smooth to lock and unlock. If you feel any jamming, unscrew and remove the back panel to inspect.
-
Connector Cable and Cylinder Tailpiece: Ensure there is no interference between the connector cable and the cylinder tailpiece, as excessive friction can reduce functionality and battery life.
-
Tailpiece Alignment: Verify that the tailpiece is centered in the deadbolt hole. If not, reposition the mounting plate to ensure proper alignment.
-
Door and Frame Alignment: Make sure the door opening size meets the requirements, and check that the door frame’s opening is level with the door lock. The deadbolt hole should meet the Smart Door Lock’s requirements.
If after these steps the problem persists, it might be necessary to seek further assistance. Please contact Customer Service Team by Aqara Home App (Profile>Help&Feedback>Customer Service) or scan the QR code:
, which will be efficient; If no Aqara Home account, please click here to create a ticket.
Your patience and efforts in resolving this are much appreciated, and I hope these suggestions help you get your lock functioning smoothly!
Thank you for your message.
Could you please provide a video showing the following steps? (You may use the filming angle in the attachment as a reference.)
- Rotating the knob on the inner panel after the lock has been properly installed on the door.
- Going through the Door Lock Detection process.
We’d like to review the video to see if we can help identify the issue.
@montemontemayor It sounds like you’re dealing with a tricky installation hiccup—let’s try to troubleshoot! According to the Aqara U100 installation guidelines, after installing the lock, it’s important to rotate the tailpiece to check if it moves smoothly when locking or unlocking. If there’s a jam or stiffness, a common cause is the tailpiece not being centered in the mounting plate opening or interfering with other parts. Since you mentioned the issue arises when the motor part (inner panel) is installed, double-checking the tailpiece alignment and ensuring no components are blocking its movement might help resolve the stiffness.
If you haven’t already, try verifying the tailpiece position as outlined in the installation steps—this could be the key to getting the bolt to slide smoothly again. Let us know if this works or if you notice other potential interferences!
(Reference: , )
What was the solution? I have 3 of them, and the first two were fine but the third is be it’s doing exactly what you described. I feel like the cable is interfering with the locking mechanism. I’ve tried adjusting it like 15 times and it’s not fully retracting and has trouble. Without the motor on it’s fine, and if I don’t push the cable in, and just align the motor it’s fine, but when I push the cable into the hole it always has the issue. I feel like there should be some type of insert to prevent the cable from Interfering.
I’m having the same issue. The cable - at least in my case - is just too long. I can’t tuck the excess down into my door because other than the hole for the knob the door is solid. As a result I have around 2" of excess cable that inevitably makes it’s way up to the cylinder and gets caught on whatever moves back and forth on the bottom.
I agree that there should be a plastic tube that fits over the cylinder and does not interfere with the movements. Either that, or make the cable M-M and put a Female socket on the front piece instead of having the cable internally attached. Then either include a short and long cable, or at least have one available for purchase. I know when I bought my August lock the one thing they did right was to include different parts for different doors.
This issue is the only issue that is keeping me from buying 2 more locks (side and back doors) and replacing my August locks. I rent rooms out and my tenants are having trouble getting the door to open because of this issue.