Thank you all for all the great suggestions.
I'm going to try threading the needle from the right to the left.
The bobbin thread seems to glide smoothly in the case. The case is a tight fit when I put it in the bobbin case base. It seems to "stick".
I'm going to work on it again today and if I can't get it to work I will take it to a professional.
I will have to get the book about the featherweight.