Looking for some help and/or advice
 

I recently bought a Fuji Crosstown 1.0. I believe it is a 2011 model. I'd attach some pics but I just joined and don't have permission to post pics yet. I have a problem with the front derailleur. The post mount seems to be stripped. It won't tighten onto the seat post tube. I did some googling which is why I believe the bike to be a 2011 year model. The site I was using is called 99spokes. There are pics of different years and types of Crosstown 1.0 bikes and the one from 2011 looks like my bike. According to the spec sheet on 99spokes the front derailleur was a Shimano Acera FD-M360. The one on there now is a Deore. If I buy a new one which one should I buy... Acera or Deore? Or is there something else I should use? I don't ride the bike a lot, just around the neighborhood for exercise.

start by explaiing why you think you need a new front derailleur.
the deore is a step up from the acera, btw.

Ok, a bit of terminology first. The front derailleur mounts to the seat tube. The derailleur on your bike has a clamp that fits around the seat tube and is tightened on the seat tube by a bolt. Are you saying that this bolt is stripped so can't tighten the derailleur sufficiently?

There's all kinds of reasons why a part might be replaced with another grade. As long as the functional specs are the same there's generally no reason to replace the current der. As maddog34 said the Deore is a few grades above the Acera. "Better" materials, nicer coatings/finishing, grams less weight are the usual changes. The higher grade components often work better longer and can have more of their intended performance level brought back with periodic maintenance when compared to the more basic grades.

Is there a reason why you are thinking of a replacement? Andy

ok... if the Clamp Nut is stripped out, then the bolt will spin endlessly... if the clamp is too large, a spacer may have fallen out of the derailleur clamp bands....

either of those problems can be easily solved.

a third scenario is the clamp was over-tightened until it broke.

which condition are you seeing?

I had thought that the clamp itself was damaged but it seems okay. I just removed the bolt. It is indeed stripped quite badly. Looks like an aluminum bolt. M5 15mm bolt w/ 0.8 thread pitch. I'm guessing the nut is okay. I don't know how to remove it anyway. So I'm guessing I can just get a new bolt and then figure out how to get it all back together and adjusted.Thanks for your help
I'll answer that last question first. I thought the clamp was broken and the clamp seems to be part of the derailleur hence the search for a new one.
As for a desire to upgrade... well why not lol. I'm coming from a performance car background and "if it ain't broke make it better/faster" is one mantra in that world. But practically speaking I don't feel the need to upgrade. I don't do any trail riding or racing. I just ride my bike for health. Read my reoly to Aubergine for more info. Thanks!

One question for either of you. Do you know if the nut would typically be aluminum or is it more likely to be steel. NVM, I can test that with a magnet I think. If the nut isn't aluminum I think I'll get a SS bolt.

I thought that was clear but I'll answer anyway. It appeared as if the clamp was broken. The clamp seems to be an integral part of the derailleur so I would need a new one. After getting the bolt out I see that it is stripped so replacing the bolt seems to be the thing to do. I'm not that interested in upgrading anything. Thank you