I replaced the vial on more than one of these, and also made similar vial tube assemblies for the Kingway alignment tool that I made; sometimes a bit of wadded up paper is needed to get the vial to fit up to the top, and the whole vial is bedded in plaster of paris.Also, you could be into a slight learning curve when you go and replace the vial. AND be careful not to lose those little spring things when you take the vial apart.