The wings were recently removed for repairs on the fuselage on my 320. I assumed retract and free fal tests were performed by the LAME but this may be a false assumption.

The first flight since repair was a  check ride for pilot currency during which the  instructor sneakily pulled the circuit breaker whilst we were on base leg and prior to my selecting gear down to see if I would notice.

I noticed immediately that the motor did not run and reached for the dump handle to allow free fall but nothing happened. I then noticed the pulled breaker and reset it and the gear went down normally. I have not yet put the aircraft on jacks to check the free fall. Any thoughts on why pulling the handle  would fail to relieve pressure? I thought the handle worked on placing horizontal regardless of whether it is placed fore or aft, but perhaps it is directional?  As we were on final I did not continue to trouble shoot the problem whilst in the air.

Your thoughts before I fly again....?

Gerard