Originally Posted by
bloodfont
Everything is mounted on the bike and I even went with the bike on a test run. Front shifting is working properly it's just the brifter that's having the issues. But I understand from what you're saying that the Sora FD (being a low-end FD) isn't that awesome to begin with. So I shouldn't expect much from it. I also suspect (having had a closer look to the bike) that I'd require an FD with a bit of a longer arm (the little arm with the cable clamping bolt) so the cable runs in a smoother line from the cable stop to the FD clamp. Is there a difference in this 'arm' length between FDs e.g. Sora vs. Tiagra vs. 105?
Have you lubricated everything? Start with WD-40 or similar penetrating oil. This includes brifter internals, cable, and FD. Also lube any cable guides and potential friction points. Follow with a heavier oil such as 3-in-One or a light motor oil. Either remove the cable, oil it, and replace it in the housing (the best way), or position the bike so that oil can run into one end of the housing (the lazy way but it usually works). Shift through the gears to distribute the oil.