Homelite generator help

It is important that the motor spins at 3600 RPM. The regulator is a coupled coil - capacitor coupled to field. The AC output comes from the stator winding. Permanent magnets initiates field, and magnetic coupling of the coil-capacitor controls field excitation to regulate voltage. The field circut has a diode, so the rotor becomes a two pole N-S magnet, with intensity controlled without brushes, by regulator. The AC output should appear sinusoidal, with a frequency of 60 Hz. Most mid priced multi meters measure frequency and voltage.

My guess is a drill motor is a universal motor, running on AC or DC supply. The florescent ballast need quality waveform. The waveform could be bad for several faults. These include bad winding... in any of the coils. Bad diode, or electrical connection, bad capacitor in regulator circuit. Or motor running too slow or fast.

It is fairly common for winding problems in older generators due to vibration.