Buying another cluster would be the easiest solution.
If thats not an option you can remove the needles - but make sure they are all in the "resting" position (i.e. 0 or below 0 - the position they come to rest at when you turn off the key) - the gas gage doesnt go to the resting position when you take it out - you will have to either ground the sensor wire or disconnect the sensor and turn on the ignition to make sure it goes to the resting position by itself - dont try to force it manually. Mark the resting position on the gage face - you will have align the needle with this mark when reinstalling. Then the needles can be pulled straight up and out without any twisting on the stem. I hear these tools work very well for pulling needles -
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062619
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2103244
but i have not personally tried them.
Some people have huge success with using a fork - just popping it in there and lifting it straight up - it is imperative that you do not twist the stem when removing (or reinstalling for that matter) - if you did that the alignment will be off.