DuaneB:
I have a diode where my power enters the board, why do you think a diode will help ?Duane B
I am just trying to figure out how that 7805 is attenuating the noise from your 555. My thought was putting a diode on the 555 pin 8 after any junctions.
I assume your 555 circuit is similar to this:
The only thing I could observe on the 7805 (unpowered) is ~1 volt difference on Vout switching directions and 5.7kohm (no difference in direction). Pretty much throws a wrench into my theory. You have quite an enigma wrapped in bacon 