How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Industrial lift trucks, or forklifts, are commonly designed to run on liquid propane. There is the alternative to have cylinders delivered 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 should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves must be worn to prevent the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is extremely cold and can result in serious burns. Other protective equipment includes goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher should be close at hand.
2 Before doing something else, you must 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. A hissing sound is normal when the valve is open, but make sure it is air that is escaping - and not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line carefully. Look around the connections and make certain that there are no leaks. After that open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank during refueling; when it is full, the bleeder valve would emit a spray of white gas. Completely turn off the fill valve first prior to closing the bleeder valve. Take the fill line out of the tank slowly. 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 to make certain that they are closed completely. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to be utilized.