How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are usually meant to operate utilizing liquid propane. There is the option to have refueling capabilities on site or to have cylinders delivered to your facility. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts should be trained to deal with extremely flammable substances.
1 Personal protective equipment should be put on prior to refueling. Thick leather gloves must be worn in order to avoid the hands from touching liquid propane. The liquid is very cold and can cause severe burns. Other protective equipment includes a full face shield and goggles. A fire extinguisher must always be close at hand.
2 The forklift should be shut down first. Make certain there are no open flames in the area and no lit cigarettes. 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. It is normal to hear a hissing noise when opening the valve, but make sure it is air escaping - and not propane.
3 Open the fill valve on the fill line slowly. Look around the connections and make sure 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 will release a spray of white gas. Turn off the fill valve completely first prior to 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 sure to screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Check all the valves in order to make sure that they are totally closed. Your truck is now refueled and ready to be used.