1) No shorting experienced using old or new rolling stock. Looks like Peco have got the switch blade gap just right in this respect.
2) The wheel flanges of some Lima and old Triang stock just skim the chair tops causing a rat-tat-tat sound. But, the stock does not rock, bounce or derail.
I shall accept the risk and not rewire the turnouts until proved otherwise. I will probably re-wheel the offending stock to finescale.
Now I'll turn to the cosmetics of the Peco turnout. These two pictures show the prototype. The first with an electrical point motor and the second with manual rodding. The crank arrangement on the latter varies depending on the installation.


And this is the Peco turnout with the offending bits pointed out. It was designed this way for ease of manufacture, maintenance and compatibility with their point motors. But it doesn't look like the prototype does it?

Probably the best looking improvement is the sledge hammer approach taken by DCC Concepts Pty Ltd. as shown in their Cobalt Motor manual page 17 (pdf) . Trouble is, my turnouts are finger operated so I want to retain the Peco switch blade locking mechanism and the complete tiebar whilst eliminating the block and tidying up the sleepers.
To Part 3
To Part 1
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