How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Liquid propane is normally used to power forklifts or industrial lift trucks. There is the choice to have cylinders brought to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on site. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts must be properly trained to deal with extremely combustible substances.
1 Personal protective equipment must be put on prior to refueling. Thick leather gloves must be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can lead to serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should always be close at hand.
2 Before doing anything else, you must first shut down the forklift. Make certain there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames in the area. 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 noise is normal when the valve is open, but make sure it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line carefully. Check 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 while refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would emit a spray of white gas. Completely turn off the fill valve first before closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank carefully. The escape of a small amount of gas during this time is normal. Make sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all valves to make certain they are closed completely. Your truck is now refueled and ready to be utilized.