How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are commonly designed to run on liquid propane. There is the option to have refueling capabilities on location or to have cylinders brought to your facility. Operators who are working with forklifts that use propane must be trained to deal with substances that are extremely combustible.
1 Personal protective equipment must be put on before refueling. Thick leather gloves must be worn to be able to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and could lead to serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must be close at hand.
2 Prior to doing anything else, you should first shut down the forklift. Make sure there are no lit cigarettes and no open flames in the area. Remove the protective cap on the fill valve and securely attach the fill line to the fill valve. When the fill line is in position, carefully open the bleed valve. It is normal to hear a hissing sound when the valve is open, but make certain it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 carefully open the fill valve on the fill line until you are certain there are no leaks around the connection. Afterward 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. Totally 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. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all valves in order to make certain that they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be used.