How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly meant to operate utilizing liquid propane. There is the choice to have cylinders delivered to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on location. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts must be trained to handle substances which are extremely combustible.
1 Personal protective equipment must be put on prior to refueling. Thick leather gloves should be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can result in serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must be nearby.
2 The forklift must be shut down first. Make sure there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames in the area. Take off the protective cap on the fill valve and attach the fill line securely to the fill valve. When the fill line is in position, carefully open the bleed valve. It is normal to hear a hissing sound when opening the valve, but make sure it is air escaping - not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line carefully. Check around the connections and make sure that there are no leaks. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank while refueling; as soon as it is full, the bleeder valve will release a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first prior to closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank slowly. The escape of a small amount of gas during this time is normal. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all the valves in order to make sure they are totally closed. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be utilized.