How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift operators to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The operator has to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Several older forklift models are designed so that the forks lower slowly to the ground and the machinery shuts off automatically when the vehicle is out of fuel. This is really not sage and can cause personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from occurring. The driver could operate a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is located. The gauge looks a lot like the gas gauge on an automobile. It is a small round object located either on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated or on the propane tank's valve.
2 Make sure to always keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is legible.
3 Look for the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: F for full and E for empty. When the needle arm points at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm points at the letter F, it means that the propane tank is completely full.
5 There is a line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle points at the halfway line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Also there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.