AN ACR LTT HAD TO RETURN LAND WHEN THE LNDG GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT.

Narrative

I (THE CAPT) WAS THE PF. WE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF RWY 7R AT MKE. I CALLED FOR GEAR UP. AT 400 FT AGL; I CALLED FOR CLB PWR AND CHKLIST. THE PNF THEN NEEDS TO CHK GEAR UP; ETC. THE FO SET THE PWR AND WAS INTERRUPTED BY A RADIO CALL FROM ATC. HE DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE GEAR WAS STUCK IN TRANSIT. THE FO AND I THEN NOTICED A LACK OF CLB PERFORMANCE. THE ACFT WAS CLBING 1000-1300 FPM INSTEAD OF 2000-3000 FPM. ABOUT 4500 FT MSL; I NOTICED THAT THE RED GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE L AND NOSE DOWN AND LOCKED LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED STILL. IN ADDITION; THE 2 AMP GEAR RELAY CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS POPPED. THE GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE UP POS. WE LEVELED OFF AT 5000 FT MSL AND ADVISED MKE DEP THAT OUR GEAR WAS STUCK IN TRANSIT AND THAT WE WISHED TO RETURN TO MKE. AFTER CONSULTING THE QRH CHKLISTS; WE OPTED TO RESET THE 2 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER AND RETURN THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN. THE GEAR PROMPTLY LOCKED DOWN AND THE GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. OUR COMPANY AND MAINT WAS INFORMED VIA RADIO OF OUR PROB. WE WERE ADVISED THAT PINNING THE GEAR WAS NOT NECESSARY. WE RETURNED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ONCE THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED IT WAS NOT CYCLED; RATHER IT WAS KEPT DOWN TO PREVENT THE CHANCE OF SHORT CIRCUIT OR FIRE.