How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The driver needs to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Some kinds of forklifts which are older are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the machinery automatically shuts off when it runs out of fuel. This is really not sage and can result in product damage and personal injury. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. The driver can operate a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make sure you know where the propane gauge is situated. Forklift propane gauge looks like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object located either on the valve on the propane tank or on the dash of the forklift where the rest of the gauges and controls are located.
2 Always keep the gauge cover clean so that the lines and letters behind the glass are readable.
3 Located at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle will show you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: F for full and E for empty. When the needle arm points at the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it means that the propane tank is totally full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the halfway line it means that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Normally, there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is one-fourth full.