Mercruiser Alpha One Wont tilt down properly

[Michelinman]

Boat is a 78 SLEEK CRAFT, engine was a 305 originally, but has 350 in it now. I would assume the outdrive is Alpha One from research......I have been trying to figure this out for days now and any help would be greatly appreciated. Up works perfectly. Down works to a certain extent, then seems to run into pressure and doesnt go down anymore, maybe an inch after a minute wait, then another inch after another wait. Ive bled the lines. The lines do spray oil when disconnected and up or down engaged. I removed the rams from the end of the lower unit, they dont want to go back in until wieght or a load is put on them. Im tryin to figure out if my pumps working properly in both directions, and my rams work great going up, why dont they go down properly? After I bled the system, it worked right for one up down sequence, then it gets halfway down and appears to run into resistance. When it stop going down, i let go of the button and it goes back up nearly an inch as if the fluid is under pressure, causing it to stop moving downward.
On another note, Foward gear works fine, reverse gear clicks when turning prop. A friend put it in reverse then reach behind the drive and engaged and locked it in by hand. Is there an adjustment to solve this problem?
Thanks in advance for your assistance and all help is greatly appreciated. This outdrive is driving me crazy and I cant pay $120 per hour labor rate if its a do it yourself project. Im an auto mechanic, not a boat mechanic. Mechanically inclined enough to test whatever you reccommend, and if needed rebuild rams...

 

[Michelinman]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One Wont tilt down properly

Also, when raising drive, it goes all the way up, then seems to leak down a couple inches. No signs of fluid leaking externally. This may assist in diagnosis.