Bicycle Mechanics - R-500 8spd brifter won't span triple crank

Hi. New to the forum (forums) and I need your help.
New Shimano 8 spd brifters. Left side (front) does only 1 2/3 swipes of upshift, which only gets through two of the three chainrings. 2/3 into the second swipe it stops just before the second click. With a return back to vertical a third swipe goes less than a click before coming to a stop (with no actuation of the cable if it is connected). The brifter behaves this way whether or not there is any tension or even a deraileur cable attached.
Is this normal? Shouldn't the brifter make a full second swipe to get to the 1st or 3rd chainring?

(The XT deraileur shows full range of motion when I manually stress the cable by pulling sideways on the section along the down tube, so the brifter seems to be the cause.)

Thanks!

1. New 8spd? You mean new old stock?

2. Are you sure you have a triple front shifter? Most are doubles. The third click is a trim position to prevent the FD rubbing.

Yes new 8spd. The R500 is a 105 level 8speed shifter still made (presumably) for high end vintage replacement and touring bikes. It's listed to be compatible with 2 or 3 chain rings.

The instructions indicate that FD 3300 front deraileur should be used for 2 chain rings and FD 3303 deraileur with 3 chain rings. Is this my problem? Are the R500 and XT front deraileur incompatable??

Uh, I think the MTB FD uses a different actuation ratio these days, IIRC.


Yes new 8spd. The R500 is a 105 level 8speed shifter still made (presumably) for high end vintage replacement and touring bikes. It's listed to be compatible with 2 or 3 chain rings.

Hey wow, neato.