BNB

I'm trying to upgrade my Claris 8 speed/triple chain ring Liv gravel bike with a 105 group (triple) that's been in my garage for a couple years. I really like the frame fit of the bike and it's my travel bike but Claris is really intolerable junk. The wheels are not original and were on a 10 speed bike. I've managed to put the 10 speed cassette and rear derailleur on and it seems to be shifting ok (without a road test as it's pouring rain today). I've kept the original chain rings and front derailleur because the 105 derailleur mounting bracket diameter is too small for the Liv tubing. I'd like to use the 105 triple shifter but not having much luck getting that to work yet - can't shift into the big chain ring. Might be a simple adjust or maybe just won't work. The Claris chainring shifter worked fine with the 10 speed chain but that shifter does not make for a happy ride. Am I spitting in the wind on this?

cpach

Shimano changed front derailleur cable pull with their first 11 speed groupsets which they weirdly trickled down to 2nd generation 10 speed Tiagra (4700) and I think also to the most recent Sora (R2000), at least on doubles, but I don't think they have ever changed cable pull on road triple front derailleurs--don't quote me on this. I'd bet a small amount of money it's just not adjusted ideally. Also--does the 105 front shifter pull cable for three shifts? It's possible that it's gummed up and not making one. Also the 10sp chain on the 8sp crankset probably isn't helping things. Do you have the original 105 crankset?

BNB

The 105 does pull through all 3 shifts. You're right about the 10 speed chain and I DO have the 105 chainrings and but not the cranks plus the bottom bracket on my Liv is square taper so wouldn't have worked. If I can get this to work well enough given the 10 speed chain I will consider putting in the appropriate bottom bracket for a complete 10 speed group - assuming that's possible which I don't know (square taper bracket threading on the frame different from a modern bb??)

cpach

Your Liv has a standard 68mm English/ISO threaded bottom bracket shell and you can get a BB to match nearly any modern crank.

Double check your FD setup again though. Make sure that:
-The cage clears the big chainring by 1-3 mm.
-The cage is perfectly parallel to the chainrings.
-Limits are set.
-Cable tension is set so there is the minimum gap to not get rub in the middle chainring and the biggest cog when in the inward trim position of the derailleur.

I think it's likely you can get the front shifting solid without changing parts.

BNB

Got it to work! Thanks.

Good to know about the ability to upgrade the bb.

Up Next: I will work on replacing the wicked crappy rotors/calipers. That front brake is so grabby it's almost sent me flying more than a few times. Amazing they sell these bikes as a "starter" bike. Good way to make a beginner fear cycling! I bought it for my first gravel race as a test. The frame sizing is the best I've ever ridden so Liv is doing something right; worth it to me to salvage this bike.

thanks for your help and reality checks.