Sewing Machine Not Picking Up Bobbin Thread?

My Touch and Sew 503 does normal sewing fine, but does not pick up bobbin thread when set up to darn or free motion quilt. I have FMQ foot, presser foot down, foot tension on D, needle center, single. I covered feed dogs with thin stiff plastic and raised the presser plate (plastic prevents material snagging). When I turn the hand wheel to pull the bobbin thread to the top before starting it takes 20 - 30 tries before it catches (presser foot down).

When I start to sew, even if I do not move the material at all the bobbin thread is not captured. If I get really fast moving the material in the normal direction very slowly I can get a string of 10-15 stitches almost on top of each other and then nothing again. If I move the fabric toward me I rarely get any catches no matter how fast the needle is moving. I have tried stitch length "fine" and 15 and that makes no difference that I can tell.

By Ann K from middle of MO