Most people are familiar with the four-stroke engine that powers most cars and trucks, but fewer are as familiar with the two-stroke engine that powers many motorcycles. In a four-stroke engine, the intake stroke and exhaust stroke happen once for every two revolutions of the crankshaft. In a two-stroke engine, however, the intake and exhaust strokes happen once for every revolution of the crankshaft. This means that in a given amount of time, a two-stroke engine will produce twice as much power as a four-stroke engine.
The downside to this increased power is that two-stroke engines are inherently more polluting than four-strokes. They also require more frequent maintenance, since they have twice as many moving parts. One way to reduce some of these disadvantages is to use carburetors that synchronize the fuel mixture delivery to each cylinder.
Synchronized carburetors were first used on aircraft engines in the early 1900s. It wasn’t until the 1950s that they began to be used on motorcycles. The advantage of synchronized carburetors is that they make it possible to tune each cylinder independently. This allows for a more precise mixture of fuel and air, which can result in increased power and efficiency. Additionally, synchronized carburetors can help reduce pollution by ensuring that each cylinder is operating at its optimal level.