A check seat assembly includes a check valve seat with a by-pass passage in parallel with a check valve passage of the check seat assembly to meter flow and maintain stability of a hydraulic system, such as a hydraulic cylinder. The check valve may include an o-ring seated in a V-shaped groove. The check seat assembly may allow flow from a pump to a hydraulic cylinder to freely pass through the check valve to pressurize one side of a piston of the hydraulic cylinder, such as a front side of the piston to retract a corresponding rod connected to the piston.