ah this is interesting, thank you. but when you say the "three bolts that secure the motor to the gear frame" - do you mean the three i already removed that attach motor/gear to the door ?(actually i guess i only removed the nuts).

or are there three specific bolts that attach motor to gear? i'll look for them tomorrow, but after reading dozens of posts and instructions, this is the first i've heard of this possibility. it would be great if i could do as you say!