Maybe with Tim's comment in mind, you can discern if the needle is dropping past the first hash mark/DOT or stopping higher than it at rest.
This is from the web:
"Very carefully set the needle on the shaft at about the second long bar up from
the lower left position. Before pushing it all the way on, turn the shaft from
the back to verify it moves up when you turn the shaft. (If it doesn't, you are
turning the wrong way or you missed a step somewhere. Back up until it
works.) As you push on the needle from the center, carefully twist left until
the needle lines up with the first long white line on the face. Keep spinning
the shaft after every adjustment just to make sure it drops back to the line.
You can now make sure the needle doesn't hit the face by carefully moving
the needle by pushing on the shorter bottom part. If it touches the face
anywhere you can gently lift on the end of the needle with the blade of a flat
screwdriver. JUST DON"T BREAK IT OFF. I don't know ifthey are
reproduced or not.
You should now have a silent speedometer when reinstalled. Don't forget to
lube the cable before you attach it to the back of the head."
