How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly meant to operate on liquid propane. There is the alternative to have refueling capabilities on site or to have cylinders delivered to your facility. Operators who are working with forklifts which utilize propane must be trained to deal with highly flammable substances.
1 Personal protective equipment must be put on before refueling. Thick leather gloves should be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can result in severe burns. Other protective equipment includes a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher should always be close at hand.
2 The forklift must be shut down first. Make sure there are no open flames within the area and no lit cigarettes. Remove the protective cap on the fill valve and securely attach the fill line to the fill valve. When the fill line is in position, carefully open the bleed valve. A hissing noise is normal when opening the valve, but make certain it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line slowly. Look around the connections and make certain that there are no leaks. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank during refueling; as soon as 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. Make sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all valves in order to make sure they are closed completely. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.