what is a capcitor-crafstman generator

Slip ring type have slip rings and brushes, same as a car alternator. Exciting current is tapped from the main output winding, rectified to DC by a fixed rectifier and fed to the slip rings. Ordinarily no capacitor is used. If there is one is it’ll be small and provided only for radio interference (noise) suppression.

Brushless generators OTOH have no brushes (duh!). Instead there’s an auxiliary “exciter” winding provided on the rotor. Small rectifiers mounted to (and rotating with) the rotor are connected to exciter winding. A 2nd aux exciter winding is provided on the stator. This winding connected to a large capacitor (frequently 2 capacitors) similar to motor starting capacitors attached to the generator frame. These capacitors excite and regulate generator output. If they fail the generator will not work.

----

Sounds like your's is the slip ring type. The instructions that came with mine (a Colemen slip ring type…) indicate the rotor can be flashed by removing the slip ring brush cover, then with the engine stopped momentarily applying 6 or 12 volts DC across the brush holders. Note: One brush should be marked “+” – be sure to connect the battery + to the + brush!

----

If that doesn’t do it you’ve got a bigger problem involving the brushes, rectifiers or windings.

What is the history of the generator... was it working, then sat idle for a long time, then wouldn't "excite"? The "electric drill trick" SHOULD have brought it back, however, the fields can also be "flashed' with a 12-volt battery IF you can figure out which is the (+) bruch, and which is the (-) brush.

If you have a basic understanding of electronics, you can test the diode(s) with an Ohmmeter, then, if the diode(s) is OK, figure out which brush is which, and "flash the field" using a 12-Volt battery.

Can you post a photo of the endbell of the alternator, showing the brushes and diode(s)

I'd suspect brushes before anything else. Self exciting generators typically use an inductor to limit field current, and inductors rarely go bad without emitting lots of nasty smelling smoke.

Keith