2. The often mentioned "reversed spool valve problem" but the
system did appear to function normally prior to the installing the
gauges. I have not accessed the spool valve as of yet. >>>

Mark,

The operation of the system may seem to be almost completely normal
with the spool valve reversed. Without gauges, the only symptom may
be a slightly weak retraction at the top of the cycle, and you can
overcome that problem by raising the high-side pressure switch
setting. That was the way I had my system set up initially with the
spool-valve problem. There is one other symptom, but it doesn't
normally come up under normal operation. The gear won't come down
immediately after a retraction or during a retraction near the top of
the cycle (this is because the low-side pressure has increased during
the retraction and the low-side pressure switch is open as the
pressure bleeds off). If the spool valve is in correctly, you will be
able to lower the gear at any point during the up cycle without the
system hesitating. I say it doesn't come up under normal operation
because once you raise the gear, you normally don't lower if for a
while, and the pressure has time to bleed off. Therefore, it is
possible to have a reversed spool valve and not really have any
significant symptoms, if you don't have pressure gauges.

If you are seeing pressure in the low side during the retraction
cycle (increasing a little from the down setting all the way up),
then I would check the spool valve.

Mike Reinath
LNC2 at 460 hrs TT
San Jose, CA (RHV)