Thanks for your thoughts. The opener installation is about 18 years old, so I expect it is time for a new motor head. The spring is that age, too. The opener had recently stopped responding to any remote control, too (tried to re-program to two remotes).
The door is not particularly "heavy", so I think the balance is good. IE, it opens and closes by hand with reasonable effort.
eeandersen OP t1_j6oj037 wrote
Reply to comment by FF_UpToPar in Garage door motor troubles by eeandersen
Thanks, will double check that way.