VAXmate PSU Failure

A little while back I posted here because I needed help with analysing the failure of the PSU from my VAXmate. Since then I have had some comments on the reverse engineered schematic which I have now improved and which is here: https://rjarratt.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/h7270-control-pulse-width-modul ator.png Following advice from a list member, I have been looking at the 555 and the PWM that control the switching transistor, using a bench power supply to power the PWM directly (across pins 5 and 7). When I do this, I find that Vref from the PWM, which should be 5V to power the 555, does not reach 5V. I have tried removing the 555 from the circuit, and when I do this Vref goes to the nominal 5V, once Vcc to the PWM is above 16V. However, if I put the 555 back in, then Vref only goes to 2V. I have socketed the 555 and tried with two other brand new 555 chips, the result is the same. It seems that just adding a 555 kills the Vref output of the PWM. It can't be anything else in the circuit because everything else is still in circuit when the 555 has been removed. Could the PWM be faulty? Perhaps it can't provide enough current to bring Vref up to 5V once the 555 is in the circuit? Any suggestions gratefully received. Regards Rob