How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are usually designed to run 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 propane-powered forklifts should be correctly trained to handle substances that are extremely combustible.
1 Before refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to be able to avoid liquid propane from coming into contact with the hands. The liquid is extremely cold and can result in severe burns. Other protective equipment consists of goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should always be nearby.
2 Prior to doing anything else, you must first shut down the forklift. Make certain there are no open flames within the area and no lit cigarettes. 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, carefully open the bleed valve. A hissing sound is normal when opening the valve, but make certain it is air escaping - 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 during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve will emit a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first prior to closing the bleeder valve. Carefully take the fill line out of the tank. 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. Inspect all of the valves in order to make certain they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to drive.