Scott, Chris, Lorn, all,
 
I was reassembling a friends 360 Gear the other day and ran across a hyd quirk that I've long forgotten.  The initial indicator was a classic internal cylinder leak but it raised the "reversed spool valve" question to which I am seeking an answer.  The plane is a no hydraulic pressure indicator airplane making the trouble shooting more fun.
 
Specifically, when the gear were down (a/c on jacks) and pressurized all worked fine.  Then to do a fit check on the gear in the wells, we opened the dump valve (all power off).  The back side hydraulic pressure was very great.  The gear could not be raised by hand even with the dump valve open. We cracked a hyd fitting to relieve the pressure (which worked).  This indicates we have a internal cylinder leak.  
 
Additionally, it makes me ask if this would be correct spool valve operation?  Specifically, my recollection was that a correctly installed spool valve will bleed off the back side hydraulic pressure.  However, is this only true in one direction?  That is, when the gear are up, does it bleed the downside pressure?  Thus, the opposite would not be true and this aircraft spool valve would be working correctly.  Do I have a problem (in addition to the internal leak)?
 
I've reversed 3 spool valves (not this one) and have forgotten which way to run the test.  Do I put the gear in transit down, then reverse to up? Or was it, run the gear up and then reverse to down?  Noting the nature of the reversal (instantaneous or not).
 
I would appreciate your clarity.
 
Larry Henney
N360LH
"Fastest LNC2 in the Northern Hemisphere" again.......heh, heh, heh  :~)