How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are commonly meant to run utilizing liquid propane. There is the option to have refueling capabilities on site or to have cylinders brought to your facility. Operators who are working with forklifts which use propane should be properly trained to deal with substances that are highly flammable.
1 Personal protective equipment should be put on before refueling. Thick leather gloves should be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and could cause serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must be close at hand.
2 The forklift should be shut down first. Make sure there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames within the area. Take off the protective cap on the fill valve and securely attach the fill line to the fill valve. When the fill line is in position, open the bleed valve with caution. It is normal to hear a hissing noise when the valve is open, but make sure it is air that is escaping - not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line carefully. Look around the connections and make sure that there are no leaks. After that open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank while refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would release a spray of white gas. Completely turn off the fill valve first before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank slowly. A small amount of gas that is escaping during this time is normal. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all the valves in order to make sure they are totally closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to be utilized.