Check to make sure you loaded the needle correctly - flat. I've found on my 201 that if the needle is even slightly off kilter it may not pick up bobbin thread, might bend and nick the faceplate, and other awful things. Problem with most of these older machines is that the needle can be fit in multiple ways because of wear on the machine. It's the single biggest beef I have about the older machines. I can't count the number of times I've thought I had to get the machine serviced because of issues like this only to have the mechanic change the needle slightly and it works fine!!!!!