Have you tried to put the cluster into test mode to see if there's something mechanically wrong with the needle, or just the input signal?
To enter the HEC Dealer test mode, depress and hold the instrument cluster SELECT/RESET button, turn the ignition switch to the RUN position, and then continue pressing the SELECT/RESET button (5 seconds) until tESt is displayed in the odometer. The SELECT/RESET button must be released within 3 seconds of the odometer tESt display to begin the dealer test mode.
Depress the SELECT/RESET button to advance through the following steps until dtc is displayed. Depressing the SELECT/RESET button will display any stored continuous DTCs before proceeding to the next step. This way you can verify whether or not the cluster is receiving an input signal, and you can narrow out whether the gauge itself is bad.
(You can start the car while the cluster is in test mode and see the RPMs in the odometer window in number format.)
This may also help: