How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly designed to run using liquid propane. There is the option to have cylinders brought to your facility, or to have refueling capabilities on site. Operators who are working with forklifts which use propane must be correctly trained to handle substances that are highly flammable.
1 Prior to 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 result in severe burns. Other protective equipment includes a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher should always be close at hand.
2 Before doing anything else, you must first shut down the forklift. Make sure 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 position, open the bleed valve with caution. It is normal to hear a hissing noise when opening the valve, but make certain it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 Slowly open the fill valve on the fill line until you are certain there are no leaks around the connection. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would release a spray of white gas. Completely turn off the fill valve first before closing the bleeder valve. Carefully take the fill line out of the tank. The escape of a small amount of gas at this time is normal. Make certain to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all valves to make certain that they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to drive.