The Von Duprin 051929 is the OEM M53 lever kit for the 996 RMV L/L-BE Series exit device trim, for use on the Von Duprin 98/99 Series exit devices. This kit replaces the lever component of the existing 996 RMV trim installation - it is not a complete trim replacement, but the lever assembly that attaches to the installed trim base. Finish must be specified at time of order to match the installed trim finish.

The "M53" designation identifies the specific lever style in Von Duprin's 996 trim lever catalog. The "RMV" in the product name confirms this trim - and therefore this lever kit - applies across Rim, Mortise, and Vertical Rod device configurations. The "L/L-BE" covers both the standard lever (L) and lever with balance escutcheon (L-BE) trim variants.

What the 996 RMV Lever Trim Is

The 996 trim is the standard outside lever trim for the Von Duprin 98/99 Series exit device family. When a 98/99 Series device is ordered with lever trim rather than knob trim, the 996L is the default specification. The trim mounts on the outside of the door, provides an outside lever handle, and connects through the door to the 98/99 device's latch mechanism.

The "RMV" designation on the 996 trim makes it the most versatile option in the 996 family - one base trim that fits across three distinct device configurations. Rim configurations (98/99 Rim) use this trim, surface vertical rod configurations (98/9927 SVR) use this trim, and mortise configurations (98/9975) also use this trim. A facilities manager or locksmith who stocks the 996 RMV lever kit covers all three device types from a single part number.

The L/L-BE designation indicates the lever kit applies to both the standard 996L lever trim and the 996L-BE (lever with balance escutcheon) variant. The balance escutcheon is the larger trim plate that covers a wider door face area around the lever - a different aesthetic profile from the standard trim, but using the same lever kit.

Von Duprin 996 Lever: Breakaway Design and When the Lever Kit Is Needed

The 996L trim uses Von Duprin's Breakaway lever design - the lever is engineered to separate from the hub under lateral force from abuse or forced entry attempts rather than transmitting that force into the internal mechanism. When someone grabs the locked lever and applies torque, the lever breaks away to a limp position. The trim stays locked. Internal components are protected. Lifting the lever back into position restores normal operation.

The Breakaway design means the lever itself is the sacrificial component in any abuse or vandalism event. Over time or after a significant impact event, the lever may need replacement even when the trim base and internal mechanism are undamaged. The 051929 lever kit provides the replacement lever without requiring a complete trim replacement - the existing 996 RMV L/L-BE trim base stays in place on the door, and the new M53 lever assembly installs onto it.

This is also the correct kit when a lever style update is needed. If a facility is standardizing lever styles across their 996 trim installations and the existing trims have a different lever style, the 051929 M53 lever kit replaces only the lever aesthetic while keeping all mechanical trim functions intact.

Von Duprin 996 vs M996: Mechanical vs Motorized

The 051929 lever kit is for the mechanical 996 RMV L/L-BE trim - the non-electrified version where the lever function is controlled by a key cylinder. The M996L is the motorized electrified version, which adds a motor module that allows remote locking and unlocking of the lever via 12/24VDC signal with fail safe or fail secure DIP switch configuration. The M996L also features a 35 lb torque breakaway threshold on the locked lever.

If the installed trim is an M996L (motorized) rather than a mechanical 996L, the lever kit is a different part number. Confirm which trim is installed before ordering the 051929.