Front derailleur set-up
 

I almost completly rebuilt my bike but I am having problems setting up my front derailleur. I have a Tiagra front derailleur and Sugino triple crankset. Worked fine before disassembly (although there was some cable tension issues).

Now when I am trying to set everything back up I am having problems with the high limit screw.
Got the derailleur set at the right height and the angle looks pretty good. Got the Low limit screw adjusted but when I put the chain on the small rear cog and large front chain ring the outer plate is rubbing.
Go to adjust the High limit screw and the cage just doesn't want to move out. I can back the screw almost completely out without the cage moving (if I screw it clockwise to move the cage in it does move, so the screw isn't stripped or anything like that).
Notice if I grab my cable and give it a tug the cage will move further out before contacting the limit screw. Is my front shifter shot or is there something I am missing with the set up?

Of course the my 1st cross race of the season is Sunday and I was already up until 2 a.m. fighting this thing....!
Thanks for any help offered!
cbPDX

Assuming the right chainline( crank/BB) backing the hi limit screw out won't affect deralier position till you shift back up to the big ring from the middle. Even if the adjustment is right,caaable tension can also be an issue.How to do it in the repair section at www.parktool.com

If you are grabbing the cable and its moving out, thats an obvious indication that you need more cable tension!

[QUOTE=cbPDX]I almost completly rebuilt my bike but I am having problems setting up my front derailleur. I have a Tiagra front derailleur and Sugino triple crankset. Worked fine before disassembly (although there was some cable tension issues).

Now when I am trying to set everything back up I am having problems with the high limit screw.
Got the derailleur set at the right height and the angle looks pretty good. Got the Low limit screw adjusted but when I put the chain on the small rear cog and large front chain ring the outer plate is rubbing.
Go to adjust the High limit screw and the cage just doesn't want to move out. I can back the screw almost completely out without the cage moving (if I screw it clockwise to move the cage in it does move, so the screw isn't stripped or anything like that).
Notice if I grab my cable and give it a tug the cage will move further out before contacting the limit screw. Is my front shifter shot or is there something I am missing with the set up?

Of course the my 1st cross race of the season is Sunday and I was already up until 2 a.m. fighting this thing....!

Hi
Setting front derailleurs can be something of a black art. Your problem is that there is insufficient tension on the cable. The set screws do not alter this, they simply limit the cage movement. Here's a rundown on our workshop system:
-set front mech to clear large chainring by 2mm
-set front mech parallel to large cahinring
-chain on inner ring. adjust low set screw until the chain just stops rubbing the cage when you are on the large cog at the back. Pull the cable tight gently and tighten allen bolt to secure it.
-shift chain to small cog at rear still on small chainring. The outer part of the front mech cage should just be rubbing the chain.
-shift front mech to large chainring and small cog at rear. Adjust high set screw to prevent chain from being overshifted and the chain coming off.

The tension on the cable governs how far the mech is pullet. the limit screws are just that - they prevent overshifting so your chain does not come off.

This is pretty much the order I did things - doing the low limit set up before attaching the cable making sure there is not any slack. When I shift into the big chain ring and small cog and try to set the High limit screw I come up with the same problem again. If I add some more tension to the cable I am then messing up the tension for when I am in the small chain ring.
Just can't understand what may have changed from how things were operating before. I think I will just set it up for the best operation in the middle chain ring (least rubbing) for now as I don't jump around with the front derailleur too much during cross season.
I'll try setting things up again now that everything has been abused during a race....
Thanks for the input!