Motorcycle Repair: rough running, ac volts, battery cables

Question
QUESTION: my 1979 fxe just starting giving me a problem. when i turn the key on the neutral light and oil pressure light will go off and on.if i try using the electric start they both go off and i get no response. if i kick start the bike it will start but runs very rough and sometimes backfires then quits all together. all during this time the tach is go crazy, swinging from one end to the other. battery appears to be ok. any ideas?

thanks

ANSWER: Check your battery cables at both ends and make sure you have good connections. If that doesnt work then your going to have to start looking for a short
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks- battery turned out to be bad, replaced battery and now have another problem. when i rev the bike up volts do not go above 12.6 vlts dc.
i think the voltage regulator may be bad and i know it could (hope not) also be alternator.

my questions- is there an easy test for the regulator and one for the alternator?

Thanks again

Answer
You have to test the stator. Do a OHMs test on the stator plug. Should be zero OHMs. then start the bike and at the stator plug you should show around50 AC volts at around 3000 RPMs. If the stator fails then its bad, if its good then its the regulator
Good luck and happy riding
Mike