I have Vikings, but not this model. they all have the automatic presser foot. In one of the tools menus there is a place where you can adjust the pressure. Take a look in your manual and see if this adjustment is available. I might be wrong, but I don't think that 'manual take up lever' is the correct term for this so if you were looking in your manual, you may not find anything under that topic. The take up lever is the 'arm' that goes up and down when you sew and keeps the thread at the correct tension.