Mul-T-Lock Hercular MT5+ plus August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen

[downriver]

Hello all,

The August smart lock pro 3rd gen seems to have a nice selection of tailpiece adapters:


While the manufacturer specifically disclaims compatibility with most Assa Abloy locks, this really seems to negate its value to me. I really want the expanding deadbolt (ball bearings) that Assa offers through the Mul-T-Lock brand, to make it harder to brute force in.



I bought the latest one I could find at a reasonable price (the MT5+ Hercular). But the tailpiece is about half an inch long or less - it doesn't even make it through the bolt.



Assembly Diagram:


I purchased two of the extended tailpieces for their rim cylinders, but they have a 45 degree turn in them near the end where you fasten them, and their mechanical design prevents me from fastening them. I tried straightening one and broke it, I'm considering finding someone with a vise and warming the other one to straighten it, I think that should work, and give it enough reach to be unlocked by the August.



But I'm also considering buying the Assa Abloy 867450 Rim Cylinder V/h Tailpiece/screws Kit, which looks something like this:



That has a design that would let me fit the disc over the tailpiece easier. I just have weird feelings about the vendor supposedly selling this kit, their website seems really minimal.

Anyone got any thoughts on how to make this work?

Also created reddit thread here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Locksmith/comm ... _lock_pro/

[downriver]

Correction:
The short tailpiece looks like this


And the piece it fastens into I guess is properly called the stem.
I can't get the disc over the longer tailpiece to fasten it to the stem, because of the 45 degree twist.

[billdeserthills]

Unfortunately since the tailpiece is active and not passive, your idea won't work as your key would hafta be in the keyhole cause otherwise the cylinder won't be able to turn





What you need is an adapter that looks like this

https://www.craftmasterhardware.com/sho ... gKgjfD_BwE

[GWiens2001]

Unfortunately since the tailpiece is active and not passive, your idea won't work as your key would hafta be in the keyhole cause otherwise the cylinder won't be able to turn





What you need is an adapter that looks like this

https://www.craftmasterhardware.com/sho ... gKgjfD_BwE

Very good advise, billdeserthills. Better he hears it now than finds it out when installing.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

Unfortunately since the tailpiece is active and not passive, your idea won't work as your key would hafta be in the keyhole cause otherwise the cylinder won't be able to turn





What you need is an adapter that looks like this

https://www.craftmasterhardware.com/sho ... gKgjfD_BwE

In thinking this over, since the lazy tailpiece is built into your latch I don't think your high security lock can be made to work, with the August smart lock. My guess is if you want to use the August smart lock conversion you'll need to get a standard type deadbolt, one of those mentioned in the August literature.

In the past I have used the August smart lock conversion with Schlage and Kwikset deadbolts

[downriver]

I'm sorry I'm a bit new to locks, let me see if I understand. Your first thought was that the tailpiece design I had selected rotated only in sync with the lock cylinder (passive), and therefore couldn't rotate without the key in place to set the pins.
Your second suggestion was an active tailpiece (lazy tailpiece?) that can rotate independently of the plug, where the plug acts as a kind of cam to turn it if needed.
You are currently thinking that the lazy tailpiece assembly won't be able to attach to the plug at all, because it's peramently attached, but I have removed the tailpiece and the attachment to the plug looks similar to the set you linked to (a brass disc with two screws to affix it to the plug).

The thing that's frustrating about this is, the tailpiece is completely unnecessary to the bolt operation. I can turn the thumbturn and operate the deadbolt independently of the cylinder and tailpiece even being present, because the thumbturn has a sizeable square bit that operates the bolt.
Having to choose a different plug to suit the August seems so backwards.

I think I'm past the return window for the MT5+ and August. Do you think it's possible to retain the bolt and use a different, lower security plug?

Let me back up and restate the requirements, maybe there's a simpler solution to get here.
I started this process with a Medeco Maxum, but the keymaker is in another state, not sure if he's still in business (got it ~19 years ago), getting spares is a bit difficult, and the tailpiece design was wrong for the August.
I have multiple extended family members who need to enter and leave, and have a poor record when it comes to losing, forgetting, and needing replacement for keys.
Ideally I'd just have a PIN pad on the outside and not even use a key, be done with it, but the HOA won't let me change the exterior of the door appearance. I also can't change the solid wooden door.
I've had my car stolen and the storage locker in the basement broken into, and there's a homeless encampment nearby, COVID-19 has made them more aggressive, forced entry, breaking into realtor boxes, and use of cutting tools are not uncommon.
The retirees at the complex are kind of slow to fork out money for more security, though they are finally getting Reed to come out and propose something.
Nevertheless, there's a lot of tenants who might buzz in a stranger who claims to be mail or parcel. And when they stole my car they also stole a prying tool (trucker's friend).
So now I'm worried about someone bypassing the perimeter and then prying into my sanctum santorum, so i'm leaning towards doing whatever I can to stop brute force attacks, knowing that the wooden door and frame are the limits to my security.
I figure that the latch is a lost kwikset cause / fait accomplis.
I also figure that in order to be used, it has to be usable, so I'm hoping for a deadbolt system that's got some flexibility (remote/electronic entry) for extended family, and a physical key for critical people.

[billdeserthills]

The August was made to work with a lock that has a lazy tailpiece--Medeco & Multilock have the 'lazy' part built into their latch, instead on their lock cylinder. The choices allowed with the August are Schlage, Kwikset and import type locks & they all have a lazy tailpiece.

As my dad says, "you can't turn a Chevy into a Cadillac", even though they are both related

[jeffmoss26]

As my dad says, "you can't turn a Chevy into a Cadillac", even though they are both related

Quote of the day lol

[downriver]

Ok, gotcha - I think. Is there some kind of august-like remotely-operable smart system that has a high security cylinder?

Or some other way to reinforce a dual-bored door from forced entry, that's highly usable for an extended family, and doesn't alter the appearance of the front of the door?

[billdeserthills]

Ok, gotcha - I think. Is there some kind of august-like remotely-operable smart system that has a high security cylinder?

Or some other way to reinforce a dual-bored door from forced entry, that's highly usable for an extended family, and doesn't alter the appearance of the front of the door?

Kwikset Smartkey

[GWiens2001]

Ok, gotcha - I think. Is there some kind of august-like remotely-operable smart system that has a high security cylinder?

Or some other way to reinforce a dual-bored door from forced entry, that's highly usable for an extended family, and doesn't alter the appearance of the front of the door?

Doesn't alter the appearance of the front of the door??? Is this a rental that you are not allowed to modify?

Gordon

[techdoctor4us]

Now the Mul-T-Lock and August Smart Lock can work together. Just need to use the special adapter which is available on ebay. Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/August-Smart-L ... Sw41pev1-y
You can even read the reviews from buyers who used it.
I have it installed on my front door and it works perfectly.

James.

[Squelchtone]

Now the Mul-T-Lock and August Smart Lock can work together. Just need to use the special adapter which is available on ebay. Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/August-Smart-L ... Sw41pev1-y
You can even read the reviews from buyers who used it.
I have it installed on my front door and it works perfectly.

James.

it's interesting how your forum email address matches the ebay seller's name..

[billdeserthills]

Now the Mul-T-Lock and August Smart Lock can work together. Just need to use the special adapter which is available on ebay. Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/August-Smart-L ... Sw41pev1-y
You can even read the reviews from buyers who used it.
I have it installed on my front door and it works perfectly.

James.

I think it's cool that you've created an adapter for an obsolete lock

[daking810]

After taking the lock apart and examining the mechanism of the August, I was able to 3d print an adapter that makes it work perfectly. In addition, the hex screw head (#12 in OP's diagram) on my lock protrudes too far out for the August to sit flush so i went to a hardware store to get new screws. It was not difficult to integrate the August to a single Mul-T-Lock deadlock, but having access to a 3d printer would be ideal.