singer 6233 can not get the needle to pick up bobbin thread?

I have a singer 6233 it was my mother in laws and I can not seem to get the needle to pickup the bobbin thread. When the needle goes down it is hitting the metal of the bobbin cavity and not the open area of metal bobbin cavity(the piece where the plastic bobbin holder sit). Maybe the needle and bobbin cavity are out of synch and the gears need to be adjusted. I also can not figure out how the needle picks up the thread if the bobbin is not directly under the needle but sits 1/2 inch away. Please help thank you

Anna
March 2009