How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are normally meant to operate utilizing liquid propane. There is the choice to have refueling capabilities on location or to have cylinders delivered to your facility. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts must be properly trained to handle extremely combustible substances.
1 Personal protective equipment must be put on before refueling. Thick leather gloves must be worn to prevent liquid propane from coming into contact with the hands. The liquid is extremely cold and can cause serious burns. Other protective equipment includes a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher must be close at hand.
2 Before doing anything else, you should first shut down the forklift. Make sure there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames in the area. Remove the protective cap on the fill valve and attach the fill line securely to the fill valve. When the fill line is in place, carefully open the bleed valve. A hissing sound is normal when opening the valve, but make sure it is air escaping - not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line slowly. Look around the connections and make sure that there are no leaks. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve will emit 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 at this time is normal. Make certain to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all valves in order to make sure that they are completely closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.