Which front derailleur

[Cyc_al]

A while back I had to change my FD on my Giant Defy 3. The old one was a Shimano 2200 (8 speed road bike, triple). As usual Shimano no longer supplied a straight replacement I had to get the "replacement" Claris 2403. Since then I and various LBS have struggled to achieve any decent spread of gears on the rear casstette without chain rub. Now I know that there is overlap in the gear inches so I do not need every gear but I do expect to get say 4 gears with each of the big cogs without rub. The front cogs are 30,42 and 52 and I am running an 8 speed chain (KMC).
I have just spent the weekend removing all parts and cleaning them, got the rear changes working fine but at the front I just cannot achieve an acceptable gear change and spread without rub.
I have spent hours in watching the various You Tube videos (which all deal with double rings at the front) which make it look so simple. Tried lifting the FD up of the cogs to the max on the braze on to avoid the mid cogs rubbing on the underside of the gate when on the large ring; tried changing the line of the FD off the parallel to the cogs; run out of ideas.

Is there a specific Claris model specifically for triples? (I note the Claris on my son's B'Twin actually says triple on it; but I cannot find these anywhere)
Is there an alternative make or model that people can recommend?
Would a 105 FD which is designed for a 10 speed give a wider gate or is the cassette the same width but narrower cogs?
How critical is the maximum range to a FD ie my maximum id (52-30) 22
How critical is the chain stay angle and how is this measured?
Is there an alternative model or make that is recommended
Is there a specific video for setting up a triple FD

Help save my sanity!!

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shimano-Claris-FD-2403-8-Speed-Derailleur/dp/B00D9FADNC

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Cyc_al I run an FD5703 with a 50/38/26 chainset so 24th altogether I reckon you can add at least two teeth to any triple for the range.
Cassette width is different, and the FD cage is narrower.
One trick many do on an 8sp is run a 9sp chain as this is slightly narrower.
check the height of the FD is correct about 1-2mm (ideally the closer the better) with the adjuster tool that comes with the FD, sounds like you currently have it too high, and then personally I would just disconnect everything, and with a fresh head start from scratch, starting with getting the cage right for the inner ring, attach the cable and take it from there.

 

[Cyc_al]

Thanks for the advice
New FD ordered
Have tried positioning the FD really low and working it up. When it is set to 1-2mm the inner ring rubs the bottom og the FD cage.
Will see how the new FD goes

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks for the advice
New FD ordered
Have tried positioning the FD really low and working it up. When it is set to 1-2mm the inner ring rubs the bottom og the FD cage.
Will see how the new FD goes

With the new FD there will be a little plastic insert to help set the height with a bit of tape on the outside to help position the height