Can't get indicator needles off for LED mod

Got my dash taken apart to change out the amber LEDs. No issues with getting the instrument cluster out but I'm stuck at the point where the indicator needles need to come off to get at the circuit board. Gave them a healthy tug but they didn't budge. Seems like I should just be able to grab them and slide them straight off the panel. I'm worried that if I tug on them any harder than I have something is going to break. What's the trick to getting these needles off so I can proceed with my LED swap.

 

OP, did you get it figured out? I'm tearing apart one now and am in the same position.

 

I did get it figured out -- the indicator needles are friction fit onto a pin about the thickness of a needle. They can be removed by prying them straight up using some type of prying tool preferably on both sides of the indicator needle simultaneously. If you try to pry on just one side alone, the fit is so tight that you will surely bend the pin. The tools I used were a set of hard plastic prying tools I purchased from Crutchfield back when I did my stereo head installation to get door panels removed. They work perfectly for these indicator needles as well. Whatever you use, do it with steady even pressure on both sides. Putting them back on is just a push down onto the pin with a finger or thumb.

 

try two teaspoons. this works for motorcycle clocks...mini fulcrums if you will

 

That sounds much better than the way I ended up doing it. Good to know, I'll definitely keep the teaspoons handy for next time!

 

Pics of how ur led mod came out!

 

Mine personally might take a while before I'm ready to show anything. I'm redesigning both the dash and the radio circuit boards to allow for 125 or 256 colors, programmable (multi-colored, pulsing to music, running in patterns, etc), with both a smartphone app or manual controls.

On that note, if anyone is selling a stock radio unit or a gauge cluster, I'm interested! I'll be reselling all of the successful conversions once I have a solid method down.

 

A fork is supposed to work good but I just pulled up with my fingers, don't forget to mark them! I had a hard time resetting mine

 

use the spoons... have faith fork slips you bent the needle

 

There is no spoon.

 

Similar topic, but what is the clear plastic portion of the dash bezel called, and where can I find clear/frosted/white needles?