Help with deore FD installation
 

I'm putting a Deore FD on a 2005 santacruz chameleon and am having trouble with the height adjustment. I try to set it so the outer portion of the cage is about 1-2mm above the big ring, but this causes the inner portion of the cage to hit the middle ring and prevent it from moving out further to shift the chain onto the big ring. It looks to me like shimano tried to fix the problems of the past flexy deores by beefing up the cages, but this has resulted one big ass looking cage that is difficult to fit. My previous Alivio worked fine so I'm wondering what the hell to do??? I'd be fine with just using the middle and small ring as I basically use the big guy as a bash guard but I would still like to retain the option. Thanks.

Try moving the der. up a bit and see if it works. Since it won't work the way it is, you have nothing to lose except time spent trying it. Unless you have to move it way higher, it might just work. Or perhaps go back to an Alivio der?

FD's typically are designed for a minimum tooth difference between adjacent chainrings. Normally it's 10 teeth or more so if you have changed the big or middle ring that may be the problem. The only solution to your current problem is to raise the fd to get clearance and see if it works.

Sounds like your putting a 9 speed front derailleur on an 8 speed crank. The normal jump for the 9 speed is from 32 to 44 or 12 teeth. Is the 8 speed crank a 32/42 jump. The 9 speed derailleur can be made to work on the smaller 42 ring but it will have to be spaced farther away from the 42 ring for the back of the cage to clear the middle ring.

That sounds like the issue. i actually bumped up the middlering to a 34 or 36 (can't remeber) but left the outer 42. I did look into putting the 32 back on but it doesn't look like it will make too much of a difference. Looks like I'll have to wait for my 9 spd chain to try it out.