How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are usually designed to run utilizing 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 must be trained to deal with extremely flammable substances.
1 Prior to refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to be able to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can cause serious burns. Other protective equipment includes a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher must always 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. 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, open the bleed valve with caution. 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 would release a spray of white gas. Completely turn off the fill valve 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. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all of the valves to make certain they are totally closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to drive.