Swap the Reel, Seal the Deal: Our 2-in-1 Solution
Why haul two machines when one does both jobs? Discover how Billy Goat's convertible scarifiers and overseeders save trailer space, time, and investment.
Space on a contractor's van or trailer is never wasted. Every piece of kit has to serve a purpose, has a job to do; and during renovation season, that list of jobs can get quite lengthy. There are a lot of machines to bring along at the best of times, but a scarifier takes up space. So does a dedicated overseeder. Unless you've got plenty of boots on the ground and a renovation diary that fills itself, running both as separate, single-purpose machines means double the capital outlay, double the maintenance, and each machine spending roughly half its working life sitting idle while the other one earns its keep.
Wouldn't it be simpler to have one machine that does both jobs? With the right unit and the right conversion kit, that's exactly what's on offer.
One chassis, two services
The Billy Goat conversion system
Several machines in the Billy Goat renovation range are built to do both jobs. Fit the appropriate reel attachment and you switch the machine's function; overseeder to scarifier, or scarifier to overseeder.
The conversion takes between 15 and 30 minutes and is best done back at the depot. The workflow writes itself: scarify across multiple clients in a day, convert the machine overnight, and return to all of them the next day to overseed. Two focused days, one machine, no second piece of kit on the trailer.
That said, it's worth knowing where this system fits in practice. If you're running a high-volume renovation operation, you'll most likely want dedicated machines for each job. For that scale of work, a mid-job conversion isn't the answer. But if you're adding lawn renovation as a new string to the business, or you're doing a handful of renovation jobs each season rather than filling a diary with them, one machine and the right kit covers both services without doubling your investment from the start.
The result is one machine on the trailer, covering both critical steps of a turf renovation programme. We've covered the agronomic reasoning behind each in our guides to A is for Scarifying and C is for Overseeding.
One platform, fewer complications
What this means in practice
Carrying one convertible machine instead of two dedicated ones has straightforward implications for how a renovation day runs.
- Space: A second dedicated machine takes up room; on the trailer, in the van, and back at the depot. Keeping the renovation toolkit to a single chassis frees that space wherever it matters.
- Capital outlay: One commercial-grade machine with a conversion attachment costs considerably less than two separate machines. If you're running a large operation with plenty of renovation work to go around, two dedicated machines make sense. But if it's just you or a small crew, and lawn renovation is still growing as part of what you offer, there's no reason to spend twice.
- Maintenance: One engine and chassis to service, rather than two. One set of bearings, one drive system, one maintenance schedule.
Which machine to start with
Building out your renovation toolkit
The conversion system works from either direction. Start with whichever machine reflects the service you do most, or plan to lead with, and add the attachment for the other. As renovation work grows and the jobs are there to support a second dedicated machine, that's a straightforward next step.
If overseeding is your primary service
The OS552H and OS553V
For contractors who lead with overseeding, the Billy Goat OS552H and OS553V are the natural starting point. Both are built on the same OS500 platform; same 51 cm working width, same core specification, with scarifying capability available via an optional flail or spring-tine reel attachment.
Both models are built around a 51 cm VertiCut delta reel for consistent seed placement. The Auto Drop™ system automatically starts and stops seed flow with bale engagement, so seed isn't wasted at the end of each run, something that matters when you're working through multiple sites or seed costs need to be taken into account. The 11.3 kg front-mounted poly seed box is rustproof and dent-resistant, with a seed rate chart mounted inside the lid for quick reference. Fold-n-Go™ handles fold without tools, which keeps loading and storage straightforward.
Productivity on both models is up to 1,225 m²/h.
If scarifying is your primary service
The PR551V and PR550H
For contractors who lead with scarifying, the Billy Goat PR551V and PR550H are the equivalent starting point. Both are built for commercial scarifying work, with an optional overseeding conversion kit available to add the second service without adding a second machine.
The PR range is built to handle the physical demands of back-to-back commercial scarifying. A 3.6 mm steel engine base, heavy-gauge steel deck, and cast-iron pillow-block bearings are there to absorb the daily rigours of loading, unloading, and working through renovation schedules. The clockwise-rotating flail reel creates a forward pull that takes some of the physical effort out of the job, noticeable over a long day across multiple sites. The heavy-duty depth adjustment (from +12 mm to –25 mm) holds its setting reliably under working conditions, which matters both for turf quality and for blade life.
The conversion kits
The right attachment for the job
There are two conversion attachments to choose from depending on the conditions you're working in.
The Overseeder Conversion Kit (350397)converts a PR scarifier into an overseeder. This is the direct route for contractors who already own a PR unit and want to add seeding capability without a second machine.
The PR Flail Reel (350112)works in the opposite direction; converting an OS overseeder into a high-performance scarifier. Engineered with heat-treated and tempered blades for heavy-duty work, it's the same reel supplied as standard on the PR series.
The Spring Tine Reel (350355-S) also converts an OS overseeder into a scarifier, but with a softer action. It's the better choice on sites where flail blades carry risk, around sprinkler heads, shallow irrigation lines, or other surface obstacles where a more controlled approach is needed.
The bigger picture
Renovation as a complete service
Scarifying and overseeding are two steps within a wider renovation programme. For the full picture on how they fit together with aerating as a client offering, the ABC of a Healthy Lawn series covers the complete sequence.
Contractors who offer all three steps as a programme, rather than individual one-off visits, tend to find it easier to schedule renovation work in advance, and easier to build the kind of client relationships that come back season after season.
Don’t just take our word for it
Get hands-on with Billy Goat
There’s no better way to see what sets Billy Goat apart than getting behind the handle, or on the seat, of one of our machines. Book a demo today and discover why we’re landscaping GOATs!
