How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Liquid propane is normally used to power forklifts or industrial lift trucks. There is the choice to have cylinders brought to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on site. Operators who are working with forklifts that utilize propane should be trained to deal with substances that are highly flammable.
1 Before refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves must be worn to be able to avoid the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and could cause 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 open flames within the area and no lit cigarettes. 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. A hissing sound 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. After that 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 emit a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first prior to closing the bleeder valve. Slowly take the fill line out of the tank. A small amount of gas that is escaping at this time is normal. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all the valves in order to make sure they are closed completely. Your truck is now refueled and ready to be used.