It is really on there, but it will pull right off.  It will break easily, if you don't confine 100% of your pulling efforts to the center hub.  I've pulled many and broken a few.  They can be carefully super-glued back together, but don't get any glue anywhere else.

Mike B.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Max Wellhouse 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 4:59 AM
  Subject: Technique For Removing Speedo needle?

  got an odometer issue and have found several sites with the proper
  fix, but all of the how to's more or lessgloss over the removiing of
  the speedometer needle.  Just don't wanna break it as it appears to
  REALLY be on there.

  thanks

  DM&FS