Tracy, The pick up screws in horizontal to the pan rail, sure you can unscrew it to make it swing angled to the side...but it only straightens or levels the pick up screen head square to the pan...or moves it forward a thread at a time. You have to bend the pick up tube/pipe to bring it down closer to the sump.
I don't like loosening those either because they're pipe thread , they don't stay tight without Teflon once backed out a thread or 4. If it needs straightening, a lot, turn it clockwise around to do so is my advice.