How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are usually designed to operate on liquid propane. There is the choice to have refueling capabilities on site or to have cylinders delivered to your facility. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts should be trained to deal with substances which are extremely flammable.
1 Prior to refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to be able to prevent liquid propane from coming into contact with the hands. The liquid is extremely cold and can result in serious burns. Other protective equipment consists of goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should always be nearby.
2 The forklift should be shut down first. 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 position, open the bleed valve with caution. A hissing noise is normal when opening the valve, but make certain it is air escaping - not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line slowly. Check around the connections and make sure that there are no leaks. After that open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would emit a spray of white gas. Totally turn off the fill valve first before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank carefully. The escape of a small amount of gas during this time is normal. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all valves to make sure they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be utilized.