Good eyes, Yes that is a lexan needle (as used on later golf/jettas?), part of another project that has to be kept secret right now. 

I had some difficulty removing the stock needle, some come off easily, some do not. I used all the tricks, but still cracked the needle hub removing it. Luckily I have the lexan needles and some spare stock needles. 

Nice write up on the cluster mod Tony.

alistair

On 2011-12-08, at 8:53 AM, T Collins wrote:

> Also note the modified speedo cluster or painted needle.
> 
> I have a mod write up on VWvortex and vintagewatercooleds.com with a
> how to-fluresent orange needle paint job. This was done with the
> scirocco cluster, but it should be the same for vanagon's once they
> are appart:
> http://www.vintagewatercooleds.com/tech/Techtips/ATStechnotes/clusterlights/clusterlights.htm
> 
> Enjoy,
> Tony
> 
> On 12/8/11, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> Very trivial mod to the digital clock. I bet most of you how have switched
>> to led bulbs in cluster have found that the light output, or rather it is
>> the beam pattern, of the LED in the clock does not illuminate as well as you
>> think it should be. Blog post links to a more involved hack (in German), I
>> tried the simpler hack of a reflector
>> 
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/vanagon-digital-clock-led-light-improvement/
>> 
>> 
>> Also in post is a pic that shows, actually exaggerates, the beam pattern on
>> the gauge faces when LEDs are used. Camera setting makes it look worse than
>> it really is, and the reflectors I put in the bulb housing also contributes,
>> but it does show how the bulb housing is suited for incandescents, not so
>> good for LEDs.
>> 
>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> PS I'm tiring of the cold glow from super white LEDs, I'm going to make up
>> some other colour bulbs.
> 
> 
> -- 
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