Nope, they burn over time. Beats me why.

Not dumb at all.

 

Well Bill I was being a little sarcastic - I know how you shut it off. And I don't recommend that new mechanics try this method.

Personally I'm not in favor or reaching down into a running engine compartment and pulling a live wire off anything, especially connected to a coil. And I certainly wouldn't want to have to reach down in there with an engine fire ("or whatever") in the engine compartment to stop the motor.

If the way you have done it for 40 years works for you and you still have all your fingers that's super, but.........

When I recommend or try to teach folks who are new to these types of things I try to forward procedures that are a little safer.

I like doing everything in the engine compartment too. But when one is testing, it's wise to have the test shutoff controls away from the test article. That's just my opnion based on my education and experience - hobby and professional.

btw, WD-40 is 90% kerosene. The other ingredients will leave a residue on interior carburetor surfaces and eventually gum them up.

One of the safest starter "fluids" is to shoot a second or two of unlit propane from a torch into the carb throat. It is heavier than air and will sink into the manifold, it has no residue, the same burn characteristics as gasoline, and will not fume up and out of the engine or carb - which can cause that fire on your engine with liquid, low volatile/slow burning fluids (like kerosene) backfired back out of a carburetor partly unburned.

Safety - it's a new awareness.