How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly meant 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 forklifts which utilize propane must be properly trained to handle substances which are highly combustible.
1 Prior to refueling, you must wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to avoid the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can result in serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must always be close at hand.
2 The forklift should be shut down first. Make certain there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames in 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 place, open the bleed valve with caution. A hissing sound is normal when opening the valve, but make sure it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 Slowly open the fill valve on the fill line until you are certain there are no leaks around the connection. Afterward open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank while refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve will emit a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank slowly. A small amount of gas which is escaping at this time is normal. Make sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all the valves in order to make certain that they are closed completely. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.