stick your meter on AC Volts in the mili volt range that measures the samllets voltages.
put black lead in common and red lead in volts (+) or the red and black sockets (depends on meter)
put 1 probe in the socket on the dizzy wire plug, use a self tapping screw or a wad of aluuminiun foil to hold it in. and 1 probe on the bullet of the distributor wire plug and spin the drive with your hand, doesn't matter which way
or drive it with a drill of eletcric screw driver (although you will need 3 hands to do that)
you should see the meter register some small volatge that gets bigger the faster you go.
if you don't see any meter action you are in the wrong meter range volts or Kvolts OR the pickup is bad.
if you do see some volts measured, check the gap between pickup and the 8 or 6 point iron part that spins, set it correctly , clean up the connector and try again.
other test is continuity test
Do not spin the rotor its not necessary for this test
And you can do this one with the dizzy in the motor. its easier to do.
Just connect both leads together with the meter on the beep or diode setting and test your meter to fimiliarise yourself with the sound of GOOD circuit GOOD continuity which will be a clear beep or a good stong light indicator of continuity, most beep . if its beeps you know you are on the correct setting.
You can now apply the leads to the dizzy pickup one to socket one to bullet, doesn't matter which way and it should beep.
if it doesn't, the coil in the pickup is burned out or snapped
rockauto or similar for a new pickup
make sure you get a v8 one for a v8 or a slant 6 one for a slant six. otherwise you will have to un rivet the pickup from the plate it comes on, and re rivet it onto the one you have, and the wire colours will be wrong.
Dave
