[Tom Wesenberg]

Jump across the cutout terminals with a short wire. Do you see a small spark? This will polarize the generator. Now start the engine and run at fast idle. Measure the voltage at the generator output stud. If it's 0 volts, then remove the cutout and measure it again.

Sometimes people use too long a screw on the cutout and short the windings, or they may have left off an insulating washer and grounded the generator output.

So, if you have polarized the generator, removed the cutout, and still show 0 volts at the output stud, then the generator needs to come apart and be checked.