How to Fill Forklift Cylinders
Forklifts, or industrial lift trucks, are normally meant to operate using liquid propane. There is the choice to have refueling capabilities on site or to have cylinders delivered to your facility. Operators who are working with propane-powered forklifts should be correctly trained to deal with highly combustible substances.
1 Prior to refueling, you should wear personal protective equipment. Thick leather gloves must be worn to be able to prevent liquid propane from coming into contact with the hands. The liquid is very cold and can lead to serious burns. Other protective equipment consists of goggles and a full face shield. A fire extinguisher must be close at hand.
2 Before doing something else, you should first shut down the forklift. Make sure there are no open flames in the area and no lit cigarettes. 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 position, carefully open the bleed valve. A hissing sound is normal when the valve is open, but make sure it is air escaping - not propane.
3 Slowly open the fill valve on the fill line until you are sure there are no leaks around the connection. Then open the valve more and let the propane enter the tank. Monitor the tank during refueling; as soon as it is full, the bleeder valve will 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 at this time is normal. Screw the protective cap back onto the fill valve. Inspect all valves in order to make sure that they are completely closed. Now, your truck is refueled and ready to drive.