How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are commonly designed to run on liquid propane. 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 trained to deal with highly flammable substances.
1 Before refueling, you must wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves must be worn in order to avoid the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and could result in severe burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should always be nearby.
2 The forklift must be shut down first. Make certain 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 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. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank while refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would emit a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first before 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 sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all valves in order to make certain that they are closed completely. Your truck is now refueled and ready to be used.