How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly meant to run on liquid propane. There is the alternative to have cylinders delivered to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on site. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts must be trained to handle very flammable substances.
1 Personal protective equipment should be put on prior to refueling. Thick leather gloves must be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and could lead to severe burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must be close at hand.
2 Prior to doing anything else, you should first shut down the forklift. Make certain there are no open flames in the area and no lit cigarettes. Remove the protective cap on the fill valve and attach the fill line securely to the fill valve. When the fill line is in place, open the bleed valve carefully. A hissing sound is normal when the valve is open, but make sure it is air which is escaping - and not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line carefully. Check 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 before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank carefully. A small amount of gas which is escaping at this time is normal. Make certain to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all the valves in order to make sure they are totally closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.