Polaris SLT780 1996 Guide

SAFETY AND
N d4NCE MANUAL

The engine exhaust from this
product contains chemicals
knownto cause cancer, birth de-
fects or other reproducti\/eharm.

TO THE OWNER
Congratulations and thank you for choosing this PolarisWatercraft! It has been
engineeredwith your ridingenjoyment and safety in mind.
This Owner's Manual provides safety, operating,care and maintenanceinforma-
tionthat you and alloperators andpassengersof the watercraft shouldbefamiliar
with before operating this watercraft. Once you've readand understandthe in-
formation, permanently store this manual in a
waterproof bag in the storage
compartment of the watercraft. If the watercraft is sold, the Owner's Manualand
video tape should remain with it.
When you purchased this watercraft, your dealer provided you with this Owner's
Safety and Maintenance Manual which covers important aspects of watercraft
safety. In addition you received a video tape pertaining to watercraft safety. Re-
viewthis information on a regular basis. If you have purchased this vehiclefrom
someone other than a Polaris dealer, you can still obtain information andservice
from any authorized Polaris dealer. If your Owner's Manual is misplaced, you
should get a replacement copy from your Polaris dealer.
Anyonewhooperatesthis watercraft musthavereadtheOwner's Manualprovided
withthis machine. Failureto followthewarnings and precautionscontainedin'the
manual when operating and riding this watercraft can result in severe injury or
death to the operator, passenger and/or bystanders.
Ifyou havequestions abouttheoperationor maintenanceof thiswatercraftor need
training, consult an authorized Polaris dealer.
The information contained in this manual is accurate at the time of publication,
however,itisour intentiontocontinuallystrivefor improvedproductqualityandper-
formance. Therefore, PolarisIndustriesInc.reservestherighttochangespecifica-
tions without notice or obligation.
lllustrations included inthis manual are general representations of parts havinga
similar function. Your model may differ.

CONTENTS
IDENTIFICATIONNUMBERS ............................. 1-2
INSURANCE
............................................. 2
...
UNDERSTANDINGSAFETY LABELSAND INSTRUCTIONS 3
IDENTIFICATIONAND LOCATIONOF IMPORTANTLABELS 4-9
.... GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION 10-19
...
LOCATIONOF MAIN COMPONENTSAND CONTROLS 20-23
FUELAND OIL RECOMMENDATIONS
.................. 24-25
OIL INJECTIONSYSTEM ................................. 26
WATERCRAFT EQUlPMENT
........................... 27-28
PRE-OPERATION CHECK
............................. 29-35
ENGINE BREAK-IN PROCEDURE ......................... 36
OPERATION
......................................... 37-48
SPECIAL PROCEDURES
.............................. 49-54
........... EXTENDEDSTORAGEAND WINTERIZATION 55-57
MAINTENANCE
...................................... 58-74
<: TROUBLESHOOTING ................................. 75-76
ACCESSORIES
....................................... 77-78
WIRING DIAGRAM ....................................... 79
SPECIFICATIONS
....................................... 80
OBTAINING SERVICEAND WARRANTY ASSISTANCE
...... 81
WARRANTY POLICY
.................................. 82-83
..................................................
INDEX 84

%DENT$FPCABBON NUMBERS
Recordyour watercraft I.D. numbers in the spaces provided. This will helpwhen
orderingspareparts. Also recordthesenumbersinanother placeintheeventyour
watercraft is stolen. See page
2 for location of numbers.
Any reprintingor unauthorized usewithout permission of Polaris IndustriesInc.is
prohibited.
Questions or comments about this publication may bedirectedto any authorized
Polariswatercraft dealer.
PURCHASE DATE
POLARIS MODEL NUMBER
SLT780 0964588
DEALER IMPRINT
HULL I.D. NUMBER
ENGINE I.D. NUMBER
POLARISINDUSTRIES INC.
1996 SLT780 Watercraft Owner's Safety (k Maintenance Manual

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
The engine I.D. number and hull
I.D. number are used to register
the boat. They are unique num-
bers that distinguish this water-
craftfromothersofthesamemod-
el.
If the watercraft is ever stolen
these numbers will help identifyit.
Keepa record of these number in
a place other than the watercraft
as well as in the spaces provided
on page
1.
INSURANCE
Check with your own insurance
agent regarding insurance cover-
age of your personal watercraft.
Your dealer may have marine in-
surance available. He or she
should know the requirements of
your state, andcan help you with
the proper policy to protect your-
self.
LU
Engine I.D. Number

UNDERSTANDINGSAFETY LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
Throughoutthis manual, important information is brought to your attentionby the
following symbols:
a
The Safety Alert Symbol means ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
FailuretofollowDANGERinstructionswillresultinsevereinjuryordeathtotheop-
erator, passenger,bystander or person inspecting or repairing the watercraft.
FailuretofollowWARNINGinstructionscould resultinsevere injuryor deathtothe
operator, passenger,bystander, or person inspecting or repairing the watercraft.
A CAUTION indicatesspecial precautions that must betaken to avoid minor per-
sonal injury or watercraft or property damage.
NOTE
A NOTE provides key information to clarify instructions.

1DENTlF16ATION AND LOCATION OF OMPORTANT
BABELS
NOTE: Warning labels have been placed on the vehicle for your protection.
Readandfollow the instructions on each label carefully. Inthe event any label
becomes illegible or comes off, contact your Polaris dealer for a replacement.
Any safety decal needing replacement will beprovided by Polarisat nocharge.
See pg.
9
PUSH ROD FORWARD
TO RELEASE
Located near support
for storage compartment.
Located on electrical box
(inside engine compartment).
See page
67 for exact location.
DO NOT REMOVE ELECTRICAL
PARTSWHEN STARTINGOR
Located on the engine water manifold.
Push to Reset
LOCATEDBELOW SHROUD.
SEE OWNER'SMANUAL FOR
INSTRUCTIONS.
Located on shroud.
Locatedon engine (waterout manifold)
FIRE EXTINGUISHER CONTAINER
LOCATED INSIDE
Locatednearfire extinguisher container (ontopof storagecompartmentcover).
DANGER
HIGHVOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD!
707371 3
Located on the electrical box.

IDENTIFICATION AND 806AT18N OF IMPORTANT
LABELS
Locatedat rear of watercraft. See pages 6 and 7 for text.
A CAUTION
I
RIGHTINGCAPSIZED BOAT
-
To prevent injury, do not place hands or
objects into pump inlet.
To prevent major engine damage: Make
sure engine is stopped by pulling lanyard
from engine stop switch and turn boat to
upright position in a clockwise direction.
7073865
Locatedat rear of watercraft and positioned upside down allowing the operator
to read itwhen the boat is inthe capsized position.

IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION OF IMPORTANT
LABELS
SafetylWarning Decal Text
0 Readand understand all warning labelsand Owner's Manual beforeoperation.
Severeinjuryor deathcan resultfrom ignoringwarnings or improper use. Never
permit a guest to operate this watercraft unless the guest has read and under-
stood all warning labels and the Owner's Manual.
0 This watercraft is nota toy. It is a high performanceclass A powerboat. Skill is
acquiredonly through riding experience. Start slowly anddo notattemptto ride
beyond your ability.
o Minimumoperatorage is 16 yearswith adultsupervision. Operatorsbetween 16
and 18years of age require close adult supervision.
This watercraft does not have brakes and does not steer without applying the
throttle. Planahead and provide enoughdistancetocoastto a stopafterthrottle
is released. Useextreme cautionwhen operating around obstacles. This is es-
pecially dangerous for inexperienced operators as a sense of judgment of the
degreeof glide, drift, and steering needto bedeveloped with experience. Allow
a minimum of 300 feet to coast to a stop from full throttle.
0 Beforeoperatingwatercraftbecomefamiliarwith, andcheckcontrols,especiallythe
throttlelever, handlebars,steeringnozzleand reversesystem. Malfunctioningcon-
trols can cause accidents. Never engage the reversesystem when the watercraft
is movingfaster than idlespeed, or damage to the reversesystem or severe injury
could occur.
Drowning Hazard: A personal flotation device (PFD) must beworn by operator
and passengers. Polaris recommends that operator and passengers wear a
vest-type PFD (Type
1, 2 or 3) at all times.
o The stream of water produced by the jet pump and falling intothe water at high
speed can cause severe personal injury, especially to bodily orifices (eyes,
mouth, ears, rectum, etc.). Normal swimming attire may not provide adequate
protection. Thejet pump output is especially dangerous if a passengerfalls to
the rear from a moving watercraft andto persons behind a moving watercraft.
Ifpassengerfallsfromthe watercraft releasethe throttle immediatelyto avoidin-
jury. Do not exceed idle speed if any person is within 50 feet of the rear of the
watercraft.
Always attachthe enginestop switchlanyardtoyour wristwhileoperatingwater-
craft anddisconnect from the engine stop switch when watercraft is not in ser-
vice.
In some cases water spray can interfere with your vision. Wear suitable eye
protection while operating this watercraft.
This Boat IsNot RequiredTo Comply With The FollowingU.S. Coast GuardSafety
Standards In EffectOn The Date Of Certification.
Display of Capacity Information
o Safe Loading
o Flotation
0 Electrical System
Fuel System
Powered Ventilation
As Authorized By U.S. Coast Guard Grant Of Exemption (CGB 91-013).

IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION OF OMPORTANT
LABELS
SafetylWarning Decal Text Continued
0 Insertingyour handor any object intothe pump intake or outlet nozzle while the
engineis running can cause severe injury.
Do not operate vehicle with inlet grate or ride plate removed.
0 Beforecheckingthe pumpfor debris: Stopthe engine, removethe lanyardfrom
the engine stop switch, anddisconnect battery cables to prevent serious injury
due to accidental starter engagement.
Boatinglawsandnavigation rulesare for the safetyof everyone sharing the wa-
terways. Knowand observe all local, state and federal boating regulations.
Towing can cause loss of steering control and create a hazardous condition.
Never tow other watercraft, skiers, or objects behind this watercraft.
Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while operating this watercraft.
Boardingin deep water can be strenuous. Practicein chest-deep water before
operatingwatercraft in deep water.
Operationin severe weather conditions can cause severe injury or death. Ob-
serveweather forecasts and conditions.
Ridewithanotherwatercraftwhengoingintoremoteareas orlargeareasof open
water. Useextracautionwhen ridinginunfamiliarareas. Collisionwith underwa-
ter obstaclescan cause severe injury or death.
JumpingHazard: Donotjump wakes fromother boats or operatethiswatercraft
ina mannerthat will limitthe visibility or reactiontimeto avoid obstacles or other
oncomingwatercraft. Donotattempttojump rampsorother obstacles inthe wa-
ter.
Overloading this watercraft will significantly reduce stability and control and
could resultin an accident. Never allow morethan three persons
[500 Ibs. (227
kg.) Max. weight] to ride at the same time.
- Riders of personal watercraft can fall into the water and experience exposure.
Never travel farther from shore than you can swim.
Collisionswith otherwatercraft or obstaclescould cause severe injury or death.
Consequently, always maintain a safe distance from other watercraft or ob-
stacles.
Starting,turning, and acceleratingwithout checking for other boats and objects
in your path can cause an accident.
Quick turns or acceleration can cause operator andlor passenger to lose bal-
ance and be injured.
0 Service and adjustments are critical. For the safe operation of this watercraft
have a qualified dealer perform these operations.

IDENTIFICATIONAND LOCATION OF UMPOWTANT
LABELS
Gasoline IS highly amm
plosive. A 11re or explos'
Located near gas tank cap.
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive.
A fire or
explosion cancausesevere injuryor death. Stopen-
ginebeforerefueling. Refuelinawell ventilated area.
Neverrefuelwhilesmokingor inthevicinityof anopen
flame or sparks.
o Check engineoil every time you refuel. Oilfill isunder
front compartment door. Runningthe engine without
oil will cause major engine damage.

IDENTBFIGATlON AND LOCATION OF [IMPORTANT
LABELS
Locatedon dash.
o Readand understand all warning labels and Owner's Manual
beforeoperation. Severeinjuryor deathcan result from ignor-
ing warnings or improper use of watercraft.
0 Minimum operator age: 16. Operators between 16 and 18
years of age require close adult supervision.
* Operator and passenger must wear a Coast Guard approved
vest type personal flotation device at all times.
Always attachthe engine stop switch lanyardto the operator's
wrist before operating watercraft.

GENERAL OPERAT1NG AND SAFETY BMFORMATBOM
Any operator of a Polaris wa-
tercraft must know and prac-
tice thefollowing guidelines for per-
sonal safety and the safety of their
passenger. Severe injury or death
canresultfromfailuretofollowthese
instructions as well as the warning
labels on the watercraft. Never per-
mitaguesttooperatethiswatercraft
unless
theguesthasreadandunder-
stands all warning labels and the
Owner's Manual.
Readtheentiremanualto haveathorough understandingof this watercraft
anditsoperation. Readandunderstandallwarning labelsbeforeoperation.
A
Thiswatercraft isnotatoy. ItisahighperformanceClassApowerboat. Op-
erating it requires learned and practiced skills. All operators and passen-
gers should becomefamiliar withthe necessarytechniquesbeforeattempting ma-
neuvers. Always runthe watercraft at aspeedwhich isproperfor thewater condi-
tions and your level of experience.
A
Theminimumoperator age for thiswatercraft is 16yearsof age. Operators
between 16and 18years of age requireclose adult supervision. Operation
must be in accordance with all applicable boating rules and regulations.
n
Thiswatercraft does not have brakes. The watercraft is stopped by re-
leasingthethrottle andglidingto astop by the naturaldragof thewater.
Jet
thrustisrequiredtosteerandturnthevehicle.
Releasingthethrottleeliminates
theabilitytosteerthewatercraft. Nevercompletelyreleasethethrottleandattempt
to turn at morethan atrolling speed becausethe watercraft will notturn. Sufficient
jet thrust isrequiredto turn. Useenoughthrottle to provide enoughpowerto ma-
neuverthe watercraft, especially aroundobstacles. This isespeciallydangerous
for inexperienced operators. Operating skills are developed through experience.
Practice until you are comfortable with turning and stopping, and always before
carrying a passenger.
Allow a minimum of 300 feet (90 m) to coastto astop
from full throttle.
a
Know and observe all local, state, and federal boating regulations and
speed limits. Boatinglawsandnavigationalrulesaredesignedforthesafety
of everyone sharing the waterways.
a
Do nottow waterskiers, kneeboards,other watercraft, or any object or per-
sonbehindthewatercraft. Towingcancause lossof steeringcontrolandwill
create a hazardous condition which could result in severe injury or death.
A
Never go over a skijump or attempt to jump waves or other objects in the
water. You can severely damagethe watercraft and injure yourself due to
loss of visibility, watercraft control, and reduced reaction time.

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION
The operator and passenger
must wear a
U.S. Coast Guard
approved personal flotation device
(PFD) at all times because of the
drowning hazards associated with
boating. Polaris recommends a vest-
type PFD (type
1, 2, or 3). The seat of
the watercraft IS NOT a flotation de-
vice.
A helmet may provide increased per-
sonal injury protection, in some situa-
tions.
A helmet may not provide ade-
quate protection against all
foreseeable impacts and may aggra-
vate some injuries.
Itisalsorecommendedthatallridersof
thewatercraftwear additionalpersonal
protection includingdeck shoes and a
wetldry suit. These items will protect
ridersfromexposureandpotential hazardsinthe watersuch as debris andhidden
objects. Eyeprotection(goggles)shouldbeworn atalltimes because water spray
can interferewith vision.
Vest-Type Personal
Flotation Device
Foot Protection
w
Beforestartingthewatercraftthe
operator must always attach the
lanyardcordto hislher leftwrist or PFD
ensuringit'ssnug. Thiswill immediate-
ly stop the engine if the operator falls
off. Besure the lanyard isfree and not
wrapped around the handlebars or
controls. When the watercraft is not in
service be sure to disconnect the lan-
yard from the enginestop switch. This
will prevent accidental starting of the
watercraft.
a
The PolarisSLT780watercraft is
designed to carry one operator
andoneor two passengers. Overload-
ingthe watercraft significantly reduces
watercraft stability and control which
could result in an accident. When two
or three people are riding, the water-
craft handles differently, which means
that the operator must have enough
priorridingpracticeto handlethewater-
craft with passengers aboard.
Maximumwatercraft load capacity is 500 Ibs. (227 kg).

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION
A
Do not use the watercraft unless it has an
approvedfire extinguisheronboard. This is
a federal regulation. Know how to quickly reach
your fire extinguisher quickly in case of fire, and
know howto useitbefore you go out on thewater,
If you have any doubts about your ability to extin-
guish the fire, swim away from the craft as quickly
as possible. Immediately seek help from other
boats or those ashore.
A
Beawareofsevereweatherconditions. Ob-
serve weather forecasts and conditions be-
fore venturing out. Do not operate the watercraft
when visibility is poor. Operation of the watercraft
inbadweather can result insevere injury or death
duetoexposure (hypothermia)oraccidentsdueto
roughwater conditions and poor visibility.
A
Be aware of the danger of hypothermia (sub-normal body temperature)
which can resultinsevere injury or death ina very shorttime. Hypothermia
canbegin inwater aswarm as
80°F (27°C). Ridewith anotherwatercraftwhengo-
ing into remote areas or large areas of open water. Take along a flare gun when
going into remoteareas to signal for help if necessary.
A
Re-boardingthewatercraft indeepwater canbestrenuous. Practiceboard-
ing in chest-deep water to be sure you are physically able to re-board.
A
The stream of water pro-
duced by the jet pump, and
falling intothe water at high speed
can cause severe personal injury,
especially to body orifices (eyes,
mouth, ears, rectum, etc). Normal
swimming attire may not provide
adequateprotection. Thejet pump
output is especially dangerous if a
passenger falls to the rear from a
movingwatercraft;andto personsbehindamovingwatercraft. Ifapassengerfalls
fromthewatercraft, releasethethrottle immediatelytoavoidinjury. Do notexceed
idle speed if any person is within
50 feet (1 5 m) of the rear of the watercraft.

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION
n
Watch for dangerous obstacles
aboveandbelowthewater surface
at all times and especially in shallow wa-
ter. Useextracautionwhen ridinginunfa-
miliar areas. Never ride in water that is
less than two feet (60cm) deep. Do not
operateat morethan an idlespeed inwa-
ter that is less than six feet deep. If you
are thrown fromthe watercraft you could
hit an underwater object which could re-
sult in severe injury or death. Collision
with underwater obstacles or people
could cause severe injury or death.
.. . .
...
2'(60cm) Minimum
Neverride in water that is less thantwo feet (60cm) deep. Do not operate
at morethan an idlespeed inwater that islessthan six feet deep. Ingesting
sandintothecoolingsystemwillcausetheenginetooverheat,resultinginpossible
severe enginedamage.
n
Always perform the pre-operation check (beginning on page 29) before
startingandriding the watercraft. Check fuel andoil levelsand allcontrols,
especiallythethrottle lever,handlebars,andsteering nozzle. This can protectyou
from accidents and the machinefrom damage inthe event something is notfunc-
tioning properly.
a
Riding personal watercraft is strenuous. All riders should be competent
swimmers and in good physical condition and should not travel beyond
swimmingdistanceof shore. Ifyouarepregnantconsultyour physician beforerid-
ing any watercraft.

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Starting, turning, and accelerat-
ing without checking for other
boats and objects in your path can
cause an accident.
Always look be-
hind you and to each side when
starting out and before making sud-
den turns. Always be aware of ob-
stacles, swimmers and otherwatercraft
around you. A collision can cause se-
vere injury or death.
n
Quick turns or acceleration can
cause a passenger to lose his/
her balance, fall off and/or become in-
jured. The operator should alert the
passenger before making sudden
moves.
e
Routineserviceandadjustments
to the watercraft are critical for
the safe operation and lifeof the water-
craft. Follow the prescribed mainte-
nanceandservice recommendationsin
thismanual. Havean authorized Polar-
is dealer perform the service work.
a
While the engine is running, do
not allow hands, feet, ropes,
straps, clothing, or long hair to come in
contact with the jet pump water intake
on the bottom of the watercraft.
Never insert any object into the intake
or outlet of thejet pump. Neverstart or
operate the watercraft with the inlet
grate, ride plate, or any guards or
shields removed. Severe injury, death
ordrowningcouldresultfrombecoming
tangled inthejet pumpordrivelinecom-
ponents of the watercraft. Jet PumpOutlet
To preventseriousinjury dueto accidental starter engagement,besurethe engine is
off, the lanyardis disconnected,and the battery cables aredisconnected,before re-
movingweeds or debris which may havecollected in or aroundthe jet pump intake.

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY INFORMATION
a
Nevertouch or removeelectrical parts when starting or during operation of
the watercraft. Severe injury or death could result from electrical shock.
a
If the watercraft is capsized it
mustbeuprighted inaclockwise
direction as viewed from the rear in or-
dertoavoidmajorenginedamage. Im-
portant:
Follow engine draining pro-
cedure found on page
55. Besure the
lanyard is removed from the engine
stop switch.
Do not give a ride to someone
whose feet cannot reach the
floorboards. Operator and passenger
should keep their feet firmly on the
floorboardswhilethewatercraft isin motion. Itispossibleto loseyour balance,fall
overboard, or possibly injure your feet from objects in the water.
The passenger
should face forward and firmly hang onto the operator's waist.
a
Never operate the watercraft after sunset or before sunrise. It is NOT
equippedto be riddeninthedark,which makesit unsafeand illegal to oper-
ate.
n
Beaware of other watercraft, people swimming, and other obstacles while
operatingthewatercraft and maintainasafedistance. This isespecially im-
portantforaninexperienced operator. Acollisioncancausesevere injuryor death.
Never attempt to lift the watercraft without the aid of a trailer and winch or
other heavy lifting device. Severe back injury or other injury could result.
Donot modifythis watercraft or anyof itscomponents. Modificationstothis
machinecouldcreatesafety hazardsand reduce machine reliability as well
as makeitunsafeor illegalto operate. Any modifications tothis watercraft will void
your warranty.

GENERAL OPERATING AND SAFETY BMFORMA"$BQN
Safeoperationof this rider-activecraft requiresgoodjudgementandphysi-
calskills. Personswithcognitiveorphysicaldisabilitieswho operatethisve-
hicle havean increased risk of overturnsand loss of control which could result in
serious injury or death.
n
Do not operate this watercraftwhile under the influenceof alcohol or drugs.
Sobering Facts About Boating Under The Bnflaeence
Morethanhalfof allthepeoplewho drownhadcon-
sumed alcohol prior to their accident.
Beingintoxicatedisnot necessary for alcoholto bea
threat to your safety. Just one beer will impair your
balance, vision, judgement and reaction time, thus
makingyou apotentialdangerto yourself and others.
Researchshowsthatfour hoursof boating,exposureto noise,vibration,sun, glare
andwind producesfatiguewhich makesyou act as if you were legallyintoxicated.
Ifyoucombinealcoholconsumptionwiththis boatingfatiguecondition, itintensifies
the effects and increases your accident risk.
So remember,don't drink alcohol or take drugs if you are planningto have fun in
or on the water.
Cold Water SurwivaO
Your life may depend on a better understanding of cold water. Many suspected
drowning victims actually die from cold exposure or hypothermia.
Hypothermiais
a condition inwhich the body loses heatfasterthan itcan produce
it. Violentshivering develops which maygiveway to confusion and a lossof body
movement.
73 Avoid Hypothermia:
0 Dress warmly
Wear proper gear and stay as dry as possible
0 Seek a warm environment at the first sign of hypothermia (mildshivering)
If You Fall In TheWater:
Don't discard clothing
While wearing your life jacket, draw your knees up toward your chest and hold
them there with your arms inthe HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) pos-
ture