update: after playing with it for a while I see that the bobbin cover will come up even if theres no side access, so I plan to eventually get a wooden table and get DH to make me a cut out. In the meantime, I discovered the small folding table I have for my small Kenmore can be adjusted to a lower height so I have the Juki on it with the extension table attached and a plastic folding table butted up to it which will work for now. I have a bad right shoulder and I cannot sew for more than a few minutes without the set up being ergonomically correct or I get terrible pain and muscle spasms which make doing anything impossible.
Eventually I want both machines set up on their own tables but for now I can play and I am happy.
I can't figure out the needle threader but I have the rest worked out and she is a lovely machine...I feel very lucky!