[FStephenMasek]

wire connected directly to the voice coil. While the field coil and the voice coil test good (yahoo!), I get a zero ohms reading on the secondary side of the output

Is it zero as in ZERO? The secondary DC resistance will be very low, could be down in the 1 ohm or so range. It will be easier to get a reading if the voice coil is disconnected...and those mods too. Sounds like someone wanted to add an external speaker.

It would be unusual for the secondary to go dead shorted but you never know.

GL,
Bill

It is zero out a few decimal places on my good digital meter, with the voice coil disconnected. I'll try my cheap meter to see if it is any different, and otherwise try to test it before replacing it. I am just happy that the voice coil, field coil, and unusual cone are good.