at what temperature F should the factory 60mm temp gauge start registering?

Using a thermometer, I inserted the factory 200 degree temp sender into boiling water, but the temp gauge did not rise. I know it has power and is grounded because the needle moves when power is applied, but the gauge otherwise does not rise.

at 200 degrees F, should the factory gauge show movement?

Short easy answer is yes. At 200 I would expect the needle to point at the E on the word Temp.

Did you have a good ground connection to the temp sensor?
I have had some trouble in the past grounding sensors while heating them up to test them.

I usually use a chunk of copper household wire and twist it around the sensor threads and then clip my test lead to the copper wire..

Jim

no, i didn't ground the temp sender.
maybe that was my problem....
thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try

100% have to ground the sender or the circuit never completes.
That sender grounds through the engine case, hence there is no spade for a ground terminal.

Zach

electric circuitry is not my strongest area...LOL

And when 'plunging' the sender into hot water do not allow both the sender signal wire and the -ve earth / ground wire to touch the water - or you will get a false reading.