How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly designed to operate utilizing liquid propane. There is the alternative to have cylinders delivered to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on location. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts must be trained to handle extremely combustible substances.
1 Before refueling, you must wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves should be worn to avoid the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and can lead to serious burns. Other protective equipment consists of a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher should be nearby.
2 The forklift should be shut down first. Make sure 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, open the bleed valve carefully. It is normal to hear a hissing sound when the valve is open, but make sure it is air escaping - 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. Monitor the tank while 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 slowly. 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 in order to make sure that they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be utilized.