How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are normally designed to operate using 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 properly trained to deal with substances which are extremely combustible.
1 Prior to refueling, you must wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to avoid liquid propane from coming into contact with the hands. The liquid is very cold and can lead to serious burns. Other protective equipment consists of goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should always be close at hand.
2 The forklift must be shut down first. Make sure there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames within the area. 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 place, carefully open the bleed valve. A hissing noise is normal when opening the valve, but make sure it is air that is escaping - not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line slowly. Look around the connections and make sure that there are no leaks. After that open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Check the tank during 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. 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. Check all valves to make sure that they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be used.