Hard Starting Galion 503L Diesel Engine

Nick & Pat · Mar 19, 2020

Hello All

I have a Galion 503L grader with an IH UD-236 Diesel engine that is very hard to get started.

Even after I hold the Glow Plug button for a long time, it still turns over quickly but won't start on its own.

Last time I sprayed starting fluid into the air intake but it seemed like it wanted to lock up the engine.

Any suggestions.

Thank you

Vetech63 · Mar 19, 2020

Need more information. Does the engine exhaust smoke any when you are trying to start it? Does the engine turn over quickly? Any recent work done on the engine?

highwayghost · Mar 19, 2020

Yes... more details, Hours?, fresh fuel, fuel filters?
Instead of starting fluid, try some gasoline in an old Windex type hand spray bottle.

DMiller · Mar 19, 2020

highwayghost said:
Yes... more details, Hours?, fresh fuel, fuel filters?
Instead of starting fluid, try some gasoline in an old Windex type hand spray bottle.

I preferred old squirt Oil Cans for gas starting fluids!!

DMiller · Mar 19, 2020

Get a Picture of the Fuel System on here, may be Roosa Master/Stanadyne pump, easy to diagnose when know what dealing with.

highwayghost · Mar 19, 2020

DMiller said:
I preferred old squirt Oil Cans for gas starting fluids!!

That would work better because the squirt bottles often don't last too long as the gas must do something to the pump.

Nick & Pat · Mar 31, 2020

Vetech63 said:
Need more information. Does the engine exhaust smoke any when you are trying to start it? Does the engine turn over quickly? Any recent work done on the engine?

thank you for responding to my post
the engine does not smoke at all when starting and the engine does turn over quickly (normally)
i just bought the grader but i don't think there was any recent work done on it

Nick & Pat · Mar 31, 2020

highwayghost said:
Yes... more details, Hours?, fresh fuel, fuel filters?
Instead of starting fluid, try some gasoline in an old Windex type hand spray bottle.

thank you for responding to my post
not sure how many hours on the machine or engine
there is fresh fuel and fuel filters
i didn't know you could use gas in a spray bottle to start a diesel engine (i always used starting fluid)

Nick & Pat · Mar 31, 2020

DMiller said:
Get a Picture of the Fuel System on here, may be Roosa Master/Stanadyne pump, easy to diagnose when know what dealing with.

thank you for responding to my post
attached are pictures of the engine from both sides
if you need anything else or a better picture of it, please let me know and i will provide it to you

Nick & Pat · Mar 31, 2020

highwayghost said:
That would work better because the squirt bottles often don't last too long as the gas must do something to the pump.

thank you for your input

DMiller · Mar 31, 2020

Corn Queen UB engine best I can tell. Stanadyne pump may be getting ready to throw up as with overhead fuel supply should not need too much boost to get in in the pump. Take the line off at the Top Cover, then pull that fitting(AFTER Shut off fuel at tank) and see if a bunch of debris in it.

Nick & Pat · Apr 8, 2020

DMiller said:
Corn Queen UB engine best I can tell. Stanadyne pump may be getting ready to throw up as with overhead fuel supply should not need too much boost to get in in the pump. Take the line off at the Top Cover, then pull that fitting(AFTER Shut off fuel at tank) and see if a bunch of debris in it.

thank you

i'll give it a try

DMiller · Apr 8, 2020

If has soft flakey debris in the check ball, get it up on timing marks and pull the pump get it reworked.

thepumpguysc · Apr 9, 2020

R u moving the throttle to wide open then cranking the engine.??
Do it that way & report back..

thepumpguysc · Apr 9, 2020

U can probably run it without the fitting on the top cover..
Unscrew all of it & try starting it..

Clyde Hathaway · May 2, 2020

Could someone with more experience than me explain how to check and change glow plugs? This engine is notoriously hair to start and must have all glow plugs working at top efficiency. You can type something about it in Google and see more owners with the same problem. Good luck, my 503L has the detroit.

Tugger2 · May 2, 2020

Has it been run out of fuel. Getting air out can be tough

DMiller · May 2, 2020

TPG is correct, will run with the leak off fitting out, just makes a mess!! Glow plugs are a carbon pile, have to show considerable resistance but NOT infinity to heat up, anything Open is trash as is anything less than a ohm or two as that is shorted and will steal power from any good ones. Old Slow style glow plugs take more than a few seconds to heat up, many like the old cats was in tens of seconds and had a service chart against temperature to hold them on. My Allis has no glow plugs, nearly always has required half or better throttle to start then immediately throttle back.

Wes Jackson · May 3, 2020

I have the same grader and engine and you have to use the glow plugs and hold the button down until your finger hurts. mine has a meter that when the button is held down it will peg out, if some of the glow plugs are bad the meter will not go all the way over. You can buy them off Amazon, whole set is around 80.00. Even when the engine is warm and it is warm out side if you shut it down for more than a few minutes you have to use the glow plugs to crank it. They are easy to change, just screw old one out and new ones in.Good luck!

Hard Starting Galion 503L Diesel Engine

Nick & Pat

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Vetech63

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highwayghost

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DMiller

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DMiller

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highwayghost

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Nick & Pat

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Nick & Pat

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Nick & Pat

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Nick & Pat

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DMiller

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Nick & Pat

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DMiller

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thepumpguysc

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thepumpguysc

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Clyde Hathaway

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Tugger2

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DMiller

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Wes Jackson

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