no spark at plug

I don't know about your cut out, but isn't that just a generator thing, to keep the battery from being over charged?

Throw the switch without cranking the meter. You should see about 3 amps discharge.

No discharge? Then either the points are bad, there is an open somewhere else in the system, or the points are open. And, they are almost always closed when the engine isn't running.

To make sure, crank briefly. The points should close and the meter show the normal discharge.

Normal discharge? Crank the motor. You should see the ammeter flutter as the points open and close.

Constant reading, no flutter? The points are not opening or there is a short somewhere.

That is the most concise piece of diagnostics I have seen in a long while. It should be made very prominent somewhere, so we can all remember it next time we need it.

Thanks!!