First of all, you need to figure out what you've got. A generator is about 4 or 5 inches in diameter, and about a foot long. Delco generators have a stepped-down section partway back from the pulley. Alternators are much bigger in diameter, but shorter. Check out my article in Tech Tips for pictures of an alternator and a generator.
If you have a generator, which I suspect is the case, you need to polarize it first. Take a wire connected to battery voltage, like at the battery positive post, or the top terminal of the starter, and connect it to the "Armature" terminal of the generator for a short time. (Less than one second). It should strike a pretty substantial arc. Disconnect the wires from the generator, and run the engine at a fast idle. There should be 2 to 3 volts present at the Armature terminal with nothing attached. Reconnect the wiring, and check the terminal voltage at the battery. If the charging system is working, it should be from 13 volts to 14.5 or so. Under 12 vols, the generator isn't working, or you've got a bad regulator. If you've gotr "residual" voltage at the armature terminal, ground the "field" terminal at the generator while the engine is running, and the voltage should jump to 13 or more, possibly 15 against a fully-charged battery.
Jerry
