Originally Posted by
wn rider
One tandem shop I spoke with indicated that others had some shifting issues with the Truvativ Elita cranks so I don't know if it would make a significant difference if I replaced these with the FSA or Shimano. I am not running a chain catcher right now so maybe I just need to put one on and adjust the inner limit.
You've basically answered your own question. Although adjusting front derailleurs on any given bike is an art akin to voodoo, I'm going to assume that after both you and your LBS have futzed with it, adjustment is not the issue.
Given that, I would start with an N-gear Jumpstop. The difference between the Jumpstop and the dog fang type chain catchers is that dog fangs are designed to simply catch the chain as it derails off the granny to protect the BB/cranks/chain, and to enable you to shift it back on. The Jumpstop is designed to stop the chain from derailling, so you can, in fact, over adjust the inner limit screw, readjust the cable, and get more reliable shifting.
Our 2005 trek T2000 has Shimano Ultegra cranks/rings, and our Burley Tosa has Truvative Elita cranks/rings. Both have Jumpstops, both are over-adjusted to the inside, and both will hit the granny reliably, although you do have to back off pressure a bit longer on the Elita setup.
So, if the $10 Jumpstop fix doesn't fully satisfy and you don't have PMK's metallurgical skills and tools, a change to the Ultegra rings may well be in order. However, do note above where I said, "more reliable shifting", not "perfect" shifting. Perfect front shifting is only available on two systems that I am aware of. One is Di2, which is not yet available for triple cranks, and the other is a two cable, push-me-pull-you system designed/manufactured/ridden by my friend Wyatt out in NoCal. It handles 4 chainrings flawlessly, but sadly, he only makes them for his own tandems!