Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.
Yes, if you get output when you apply 12V (or just about any DC) to the field and you don't get output with the field connected to the VR then you most likely have a bad VR. The VR regulates the DC that it feeds to the field which in turn controls AC output from the gen head.
You probably...
A 12V flash would probably work. You just need to give it a little magnetism to start the process. Once it gets a little it can build the rest. Usually the residual magnetism is sufficient unless the set has been unused for a long time.