Posted for randy snarr <randylsnarr@yahoo.com>:

 Chris,
 My airplane is the early 235 like Bob's.
 I also can push the gear up by hand with the spool
 valve in the down position by opening the dump valve.
For all of my gear tests up until a few months ago you
 could move the gear all the way up into the retracted
 position with ease this way. The last time I tried
 this, there was pressure building as the gear got
 close to the retract position. Pressure enough that I
 could not push it all the way into the wing. Not sure
 what has changed.
 Maybe I my spool valve is indeed stuck.
 
 Ideas?
 
 Randy.