HELP! Anybody who knows how gauges work!

[Konstantin Bogach]

I am about to become really superstitious. But I have some hope for
scientific expanation. Here the problem:
I disassembled instrument cluster(IC), cleaned all contacts, used deoxIT
and ProGold. Put back main board and because it was 2am I left it for
next day. Everything was fine.  Today  when I wanted to finish it I
noticed that needle on coolant temp gauge is stuck below 0 like frozen.
Speed's needle hanging at 6 o'clock and can move to 5000 rpm where it
reaches some stopper. Yesterday I had similar (like with speedo)
situation with tahometer. I took the needle off , reinstalled it and
everything settled in right place. By the way, I could not take it off
for some time and then it went off very easily. I am still puzzled. I
tried to take the needle  off the speedo but could not. Is any secret
there?
I was very careful working on IC. It's idiotic situation.

Please, let me know if you have an idea what is going on.  I tend to
think that it is my cat who played with needles at nitght :-).

Konstantin Bogach.