My Brother has automaatic threading, but will not work unless the pressure foot is down.

Back to the needle hitting the bobbin case. I was told by my Bernina dealer that when you put the bobbin case in you should hear a click. I have owned 4 Bernina's some are a little toucher than others about clicking into place.
My daughter purchased the 440QE about 1 yr ago. She had to take it back to the dealer to have them adjust the a piece in the shuttle area that holds the bobbin case, because it would not click in place and stay there. It sounds like maybe that is what your is doing. Hers worked after that.
Hope you get some help with this.

The reason for threading while presser foot up is that the thread will then go into the tension rings..you can thread the machine..then release the presser foot and then thread the needle. One way to make sure you have the thread in the tension is to release presser foot..pull thread it should be fairly loose...put presser foot down..pull thread you should be able to feel the tension. this is for any machine..not just bernina

I was told to always thread my Bernina with presser foot up, but didn't know it could cause that much trouble if you don't. I just thought the stitches might be a little different for first few stitches.

It really does make a difference on the newer machines as the tension disk is very sensative with all the computerizim now. On the older machines, it wasn't has important. If the foot is down, you are pulling against all the tension spots in the machine. Thread it with the foot up then lower the foot to thread the needle and you will be safe. My mother was a seamstress when I was growing up and that was one of the first things she taught me. She used a Singer & a Kenmore. It really is a good habit to form.

How do you thread a needle with a needle thearder with the foot up. The thearder has to come down and it can't with the foot all the way up. I just have the foot up, thread it but the needle and have enough thread pulled to thread the needle before I put the food down.

Gotta tell ya - I am so impressed that you remember what you were taught in Home Ec. Your memory is much better than mine. :lol:

Thanks for letting me know. I will pay more attention to how I thread my own machine in the future.

When threading the upper thread it is important that the pressure foot is up.
When you thread the needle put the pressure foot down.
I have a bernina 730 If I attempt to thread the needle with the foot up I get a little reminder it is easier to thread with the foot down.
If you have a problem contact Bernina customer service.

I have found Bernina customer service to be very prompt and good to work with. Had a problem with a dealer once and several of us reported it directly to Bernina. They must have gotten the message because there were definite changes made. Customer service on anything usually goes back to the individual dealer but Bernina really takes notice when notified.
Also their web site is great for projects, information and webitar's for free. You don't have to own a Bernina to use the site.
Good Luck.