Of course Rich is right. What I have done...and what would probably still work as long as basic coil design hasn't changed...
work in a room dark enough to see spark. Put a plug in the end of the cap. Connect the metal base of the plug to the metal part that bolts/grounds to the frame (probably one end of the laminations). Get a 12 V source, battery charger is handy. Connect neg of 12v source to base of plug and/or coil ground, and intermittently connect the + to the positive of the primary (this is the smaller connection). I think the spark is created by the collapse of the magnetic field, so you need to "tap" the 12V+ wire on the connection several times, you should see a spark.
Measuring resistance is a good test but every once in a while on a coil or stator I find one with flaky windings that check good on the bench, but open up with the slightest heat or vibration.