Deadbolt Jammed For Manual Usage (Works perfectly from keypad or app)

Hi jongarrison,

We should replace that Smart Lock for you. Have you already been in touch with our Support team about this? I'll be requesting that someone reach out.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

Just wanted to update here for others that might be seeing this issue.

Simplisafe support did get in touch with me and we tried a number of things with some positive/mixed results. The support experience (with Christopher) has been excellent. A full reset of the firmware on the door lock seemed to significantly lessen the jamming of manual operation. After some additional testing after the call, where I was locking and unlocking the door from the app, the jamming occurred 3 out of 15 times or so. This is a vast improvement, but still an issue.

I'll update here again when we have things worked. Thanks for the excellent response from Simplisafe!

I had a similar issue, which I ultimately resolved by replacing the deadbolt. It still does it a little, but much less.

If you turn the knob slightly in the wrong direction first, you should free it up. I also note that the jamming only occurs after a powered lock or unlock, never after a manual turn.

I have some additional data.

I ordered a new smartlock the other day, since it was on sale, and I wanted a second one for another door anyway, plus I was redoing my front door and thought a black smartlock would match better than my old white one. I went through the setup, and everything seemed fine, until after the calibration was done. At that point, I tried turning the knob manually, and it wouldn't budge. (I couldn't even do the wiggle thing.) So, I turned it a little harder, and... well, I wouldn't say it came loose exactly, but I was able to turn it all the way, and after that it was fine, manually. But it quit working automatically. It didn't respond at all. I tried recalibrating it, and it just refused. I tried removing and re-adding it; no difference. I tried taking out the batteries, leaving it for a while, and then re-adding it. Ultimately it wouldn't even register. (The only thing I didn't try was the factory reset I since saw mentioned elsewhere. I guess I'll do that later.)

So, I took it off and put the old smartlock back (still using the new deadbolt). I went through the same process of re-adding it, and got to the same point -- no manual turning possible. Instead of forcing it, this time I locked and unlocked it via the pin pad, and after that -- and one brief wiggle -- it seemed OK.

BTW, the first deadbolt I mentioned in my previous post was some nameless thing supplied by a locksmith, using a Schlage keyway, that was then about ten years old. The smartlock knob came out at odd angles (open and locked positions weren't symmetrical), and like I say, it didn't work well (although it had been OK as a deadbolt). I'd replaced that with a cheap Kwikset, and for the new project, I replaced both the handle and deadbolt with a nicer Kwikset pair. With both Kwikset deadbolts, the knob stops at about a 45 degree angle for each position. I hope this info may help diagnose the issue. (The exact handleset I bought is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YB65NS )

If I can summarize --

I don't know the inner workings of the smartlock, but basically, it seems to me that it should be doing this, whenever an automated turn is requested:

1. Grab the knob.
2. Turn it.
3. Release the knob.

Instead, we're seeing this:

1. Grab the knob.
2. Turn it.
3. (nothing)

Step 3 never happens. It should release the knob, every time, after it turns it (either way). But it doesn't.