[robs]

I recommend removing the needle. At first I tried to pull the needle, but it didn't move. Instead I pulled the black push rod off the trip reset (this is dangerous, the push rod is attached very firmly and can break, do not pull it!). Then I turned the face plate to reach the screws through the holes. But the face plate was still in the way when I wanted to disassemble the gear set... So I carefully twisted the needle counter clockwise (against the internal stop of the axle) to break it loose, and that worked for me. Remember its original position when you put it back on.

PS: my odometer gear was the ROW version with 29 teeth. I didn't find this part in the U.S., but I found two dealers in Germany who sell the original VDO part. I paid approx. 15 US$.