Md-11 flight crew reported unsafe landing gear indications with landing gear extended.

Attributes
ACN	1616659
Time
Date	201902
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Landing Gear Indicating System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

On visual approach to 7R; [I] asked for 'gear down' at approximately 2500 feet. Gear indication stayed all red. [I] called for a go around at approximately 1700 feet. Engage autopilot and started cleanup. We were told by tower to maintain 4000 feet. Light md-11 ballooned through altitude to 4300 feet. Disconnected autopilot and returned to 4000 feet. Once stable; I called for gear down again and it remained all red again. I then reached up and pushed the gear handle in and it went green. Returned for normal landing.cause: autopilot does not do well with a light md-11 and quick level offs.I wrote up the gear handle because it didn't spring in to position. Maintenance signed aircraft off saying we didn't have it in the detent. I have been in the md-11 for about 12 years and have seen this before. First officer (first officer) has less than 75 hours in the aircraft and it being the end of a long day I didn't realize what was happening at first.suggestions: I should have used the 'go-around vertical speed' method.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD-11 flight crew reported unsafe landing gear indications with landing gear extended.

Narrative: On visual approach to 7R; [I] asked for 'Gear Down' at approximately 2500 feet. Gear indication stayed all red. [I] called for a go around at approximately 1700 feet. Engage autopilot and started cleanup. We were told by Tower to maintain 4000 feet. Light MD-11 ballooned through altitude to 4300 feet. Disconnected autopilot and returned to 4000 feet. Once stable; I called for gear down again and it remained all red again. I then reached up and pushed the gear handle in and it went green. Returned for normal landing.Cause: Autopilot does not do well with a light MD-11 and quick level offs.I wrote up the gear handle because it didn't spring in to position. Maintenance signed aircraft off saying we didn't have it in the detent. I have been in the MD-11 for about 12 years and have seen this before. FO (First Officer) has less than 75 hours in the aircraft and it being the end of a long day I didn't realize what was happening at first.Suggestions: I should have used the 'Go-Around Vertical Speed' method.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.