Originally Posted by FBinNY

There's a clue here.

If the FD shifts well with direct pulling on the wire, but not via the lever, then it has to be a spanning issue. Either the FD and levers are mismatched so it's not traveling far enough, or there's something in how the wire ism attached (doubtful).

OR,

The crankset's chainring separation is greater that the FD is designed for.

This is a case or raising the bridge or lowering the water. Either increase the FD travel, or narrow the chainring separation. If everything about the FD is to spec, then make a feeler gauge, and compare the cranksets chainring separation to that of a Shimano.