Suggestion to replace 555 timer

Joe,

12V is just as good as 9V for NE555. The 2N3904 pulses the coil so the NE555 should have an easy job.
Is the VCC to pin 7 resistor to low? Does a new NE555 get hot?

Thanks for getting back. I have a 10K resister from Vcc to pin 7. I have not tried the 12V again.

I am still cooking the 555. Attached is the schematic;

/Users/scarpino/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Thumbnails/2016/05/02/20160502-142927/YNmw0JosRqGRY45fb5wBYw/thumb_DSC_0036_1024.jpg

DSC_0036.jpg

Joe,

The two attachments did not work. The files name in text was used instead of the pictures. Can you try again?

I can't get this schematic to transfer. Do you have an email address we could use ?

Joe,

The NE555 oscillator section looks good. Countless others have used similar setup with no trouble.

My concerns is that there should be capacitance (0.1uF) nears pins 8 to 1 because the NE555 tends to have shoot-though current when switching. I would also expect that the 2N3904 back-feeds high voltage from the inductor though the base emitter junction and 2k resistor to the NE555 pin 3 output pin.

Thank you for the follow-up.  I agree that "Countless others" have had no trouble.  

(1)  Regarding the 0.1uF capacitor; would a resistor be just as effective from supply to pin 8 ?

(2)  The 2N3904 has had me concerned also.  I don't have it on the schematic, but I have an LED at the "supply" to the coil located above the 30V label on the schematic.  I would think if the feed-back voltage were that high, it would have taken out that LED.   Is the reverse voltage protection ineffective as constructed ?  Can the supply voltage be feeding into pin 3 when it goes to ground through the 2N3904 ?

(3)  Can you suggest other components to accomplish the same objective ?

Once again, thank you for your time.    

1) Close as practical to NE555 is best.
2) Can you measure with a oscilloscope?
3) Add a diode is series with 2k resistor should be enough to protect NE555.