Generator not putting out enough wattage...I think

Many of the non-inverter generators have a poor waveform that throws off a frequency meter. At 161 Hz. the engine would be turning close to 10,000 RPM and it would self destruct before getting to that speed. A different frequency meter might work ok, and an oscilloscope definitely would. If you can find an old motor-driven clock with a sweep second hand, it makes a perfectly good frequency meter because the motor speed is based on the frequency.