p.j.,
The ammeter is between the generator and the battery. If the ammeter is working properly, and doesn't show a charge, then you can be assured the generator is not charging the battery.
I have pasted a HRL quote. This will help isolate a generator problem from a regulator problem.
"Attach a ground wire from the field terminal on the generator to ground. This should put the generator into full output if it's able to charge at all. If the voltage at the armature terminal doesn't rise to above battery voltage with the field grounded, you're going to need to rebuild the generator."
Stuart
