How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are normally designed to run on liquid propane. There is the choice to have refueling capabilities on location or to have cylinders brought to your facility. Operators who are working with forklifts which use propane should be trained to deal with highly combustible substances.
1 Personal protective equipment should be put on prior to refueling. Thick leather gloves should be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and can cause severe burns. Other protective equipment consists of a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher should be close at hand.
2 The forklift must be shut down first. Make certain there are no open flames in 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 place, carefully open the bleed valve. 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 slowly. Look around the connections and make certain that there are no leaks. Afterward open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve will release a spray of white gas. Totally turn off the fill valve first before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank carefully. A small amount of gas which is escaping during this time is normal. Make certain to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all the valves in order to make certain they are totally closed. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to drive.