My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

For Christmas Janelle's parents gave me their used watercraft and trailer. It hasn't run in a few years, but I think with a little TLC it'll be good as new. I just bought a service manual for it and plan to trailer it from their garage today. The SLX780 was pretty much the race boat to beat back in the mid 90's so I'm pretty pumped to get it back on the water. I used to have a 1994 SL650 which has the same basic layout as the '95 SLX780 and since I got very familiar with that one (modded it...of course) I think I should be able to handle this one no problem. The only thing I don't know much about is carburetors, and since it has 3 that may pose as my largest obstacle. I do have experience tuning single carb setups though so we'll see! I'll try to get some pictures posted later.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

if you need any help let me know. I just sold my pro 785 which was their actual factory race ski and it had 140 hp! if you want to get major power I have a set of triple pipes which should ad at least 20 hp. good luck and keep us posted.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

Oh nice! The Pro came out in '96 right? Or was it '95? Its been so long since I was into these things the specs are getting a bit fuzzy in my brain. Mind giving me more info on those triple pipes?

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

We have a kawasaki 750ss and it scoots pretty good. Clean the carb and i bet it will fire right up.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

Pic please, I love jet skis.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

http://www.dsmstyle.com/photopost/da...31-09_1329.jpg

http://www.dsmstyle.com/photopost/da...31-09_1330.jpg

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780 PWC
 

I just went and picked it up this morning. It hasn't been used since 2005 so it was covered in a pretty thick layer of dust and lots of lake grime. $2.50 at a DIY carwash took care of most of that and I think it looks fairly decent for spending 10 of its 14 years of life sitting in a lake. I plan to replace the maintenance stuff (battery, fuel filter, fuel lines, spark plugs, etc.), clean out the carbs, grease the driveshaft, clean out the pump housing really well, and drain/replace the fuel and oil over the next few weeks. I'd love to have this thing running by the 4th of July weekend! Once its running I'll spend some time cleaning up the body and replacing the footwell mats.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

Are you going to paint it and take it out of the 90s? you pullin this with the evo?? j/k or are ya

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

I'll worry about paint once its running :D I really don't mind the paint/decal scheme to be honest. I was really into these things back in the 90's and used to love how they looked. Kind of like a lot of us thinking 1G's are sexy I suppose. If I do anything, I'll strip the decals off, paint the plastic rub rails black, and get a black seat cover and black well mats to go for a nice clean black/white scheme.

My mom is nice enough to let me borrow her Grand Cherokee to haul it around, I'm not so sure the Evo or WRX would appreciate having it hooked up ;)

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

Havnt you seen the 1g that pulls a boat regularly

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

Nope, but I've seen S2000's towing sailboats. My plan is to trailer it to the lake once its running and leave it there so my mom's Jeep will do fine.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

You mean a local one, or the one owned by that mod on DSMtalk?

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I say leave the decals on, paint the rub rails black, get black well mats, and get a black seat cover, that would look pretty nice IMO

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I bid on a rear grab handle on eBay (current one is broken in half) that I plan to paint black if I win it and I messaged a guy about some black mats he is selling. That'll be about it for cosmetic stuff until its up and running since that's what I really need to focus on right now.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

You can always do a motor swap from something bigger/newer that has more powa!

Or get a bigger carb, mill the head and run e85.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

i ment the mod on talk, this isnt a setup shot he regularly uses it
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...9225/BOAT2.jpg

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX780
 

It's true! The funny thing is that he owns a pickup, but still tows with the Talon. Great guy, he was up here on vacation last fall and I had lunch with him.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

+1 on E85!

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Nice project! I had a '95 Yamaha Waveblaster 700 with a few mods. That thing was a lot of fun! Seeing this makes me miss it.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Most boats are light, so they would not put to much extra stress on the drive train, and a DSM or similar might get better MPG then a truck. I would not try to launch the car or do high way pulls, but driving normal I think it would be fine.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

The parts cost is already adding up! I've spent about $120 already buying maintenance and replacement parts and I haven't even begun actually working on it.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

They are fun toys! Ever since my modded '94 Polaris SL650 blew up I've missed having two around. My parents have a '01 Polaris Virage so it will be nice having two at the lake again.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Nice, I had a couple of vintage SL650's as well, great ride for the price. I thought about slapping a turbo on it, then read up on two-stroke's, no thanks.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Turbo two strokers can make a decent amount of power, they are just a pain in the ass to set up.

As far as using a DSM to tow a boat, I think the boat in the pic would be a little too heavy for me to feel comfortable with. I used a '93 Celica to tow my jetski and it worked just fine.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I wouldn't worry about a boat behind my DSM since it's beefed up in every way, but I wouldn't want to be putting the rearend in the water every time I launched or pulled out the boat. Trucks that frequently load and unload boats go through rear bearings quicker.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I spent a good 8 hours today working on this thing. I replaced most of the fuel lines (10' wasn't enough so I ran out today), removed the jet intake grate to clean out the jet pump, put in new spark plugs, sprayed the carbs with some carb cleaner, drained the oil and fuel, inspected and cleaned the reeds, lubricated the steerting, throttle, and choke cables, tightened the steering and trim connections, refilled the oil and fuel with fresh stuff, replaced the fuel and oil filters, and finally primed the fuel system. If I work on it again tomorrow I'll finish replacing the fuel lines, clean the flame arrestors, reattach the intake manifold and carbs, and maybe get a new battery for it and try turning it over :D

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Sounds like you know what you're doing!

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Good progress.

You will probably need to take the carbs apart and clean them. Just spraying carb cleaner wont do much.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

You're probably right :( Do you think a carb rebuild kit will be necessary?

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Unless you wanna spend hours cleaning every tiny little part, I'd suggest getting a rebuild kit. You would probably need to buy gaskets for it anyways.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Yeah, just rebuild them, and buy yourself carb cleaner in a bucket, so you can fully submerge and soak the non-plastic components once you get them disassembled.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Damn them for not using Stabil 4 years ago!

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Haha even stabil wont stop all gumminess in carbs. I had to clean/rebuild by bikes carbs this year, did it 2 years ago too. Passages are so tiny that gas in the carbs just gets gummy.

Rebuild kit isnt a bad idea, the rubber gaskets are probably all hard, may leak if taken apart and put back together.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Once they are out Chris you might as well rebuild them, it's cheap and then you won't have to worry about your high speed jet not working right, running it lean, and burning it up in the process. Plus rebuilding those older carbs isn't very hard. Another thing I would strongly suggest checking out in the oil injection system, I have heard of those having problems if they sit a long time. Looks like a cool project though.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Not a bad machine, I have a 1995 seadoo hx with minor mods. Definitely fun summer toy but they are maintenance whores!

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I would say definetly rebuild the carbs and fuel pump as they are more then likely all gumed up and dried out.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Well, everything is ready to attempt starting the engine, just waiting for the new battery to charge :)

Scheides' lended a hand today and came over (well, I picked him up) and assisted in getting the carbs/intake manifold bolted back on and finish replacing the fuel lines.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

I successfully lost one nut and one bolt! Glad I could help! :D

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

No go :( I drained the battery and a can of starting fluid with no success. As 95talonracer said, the carbs and/or fuel pump probably need rebuilding. It is getting spark though which is good. The engine was so rusted solid it wouldn't even turn over at first. It took a lot of quick repeated start button pushing to finally get the internal rust broken free. Once it started turning over though it sounded really strong which got my hopes up. I was trying for a long time though, I'm impressed with the $50 Walmart battery.

Re: My summer project - 1995 Polaris SLX 780
 

Hopefully the cylinder walls and bearings aren't messed up from being slightly seized up like that.