What is the best method to synchronize cylinders?

• A. Non-compensated flow control valves
• B. Pressure-compensated flow control valves
• C. Cylinders in series
• D. Mechanical yoke

Answer: (D)

Synchronizing cylinders means making their motion happen together, even if loads or flow differ. The most reliable way is to mechanically couple the cylinders with a yoke (or crosshead). This rigid linkage ties the piston rods so they move as one unit, ensuring the same displacement and timing for both cylinders during extension and retraction. It directly enforces synchronized motion, regardless of variations in hydraulic flow or load that could cause one cylinder to run ahead of the other. Other methods rely on adjusting flow or circuit arrangement, but they can still drift if pressures or loads change, whereas a mechanical yoke provides a fixed, physical constraint that keeps the cylinders in lockstep.