How to Read a Forklift Propane or LP Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The driver needs to know when the forklift is almost out of gas. Several older forklift models are designed so that the forks slowly lower to the ground and the equipment shuts off automatically when the vehicle runs out of fuel. This is really not sage and could lead to product damage and personal injury. Newer kinds of forklifts are designed differently to prevent this from occurring. The operator can use a handle which stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Know where the propane gauge is located. The gauge looks much like the gas gauge on an automobile. It is a small round object situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the forklift dash 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 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: E represents empty and F represents full. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it will mean that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm points at the letter F, it would mean that the propane tank is totally full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle arrives at the middle 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 points at the quarter mark nearest the F, it would mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is a quarter full.