I would not want to remove the needle every time I needed to thread it.

Here are some things that can help:

• Wax the the last couple of inches of thread with beeswax. This will make the thread stiff and easy to manipulate. You are probably already doing this, however.
• Get a directional reading lamp next to the machine, to get more light.
• Get some reading glasses at the drug store - large ones that can fit over whatever glasses you are already wearing. There are also clip-on reading glasses.
• Use extra long tweezers to hold the thread. If you have a serger, you should also already have these.

I have a card, business size card that is black on one side and white on the other. If using a light colored thread I put the black side od the card behind the needle so it is easier to see what I am doing. Vice versa for dark thread. And I have curved tweezers that I can grab the thread after it pokes thru the needle.

Of course you can do that, but too often and it would be very awkward. I understand how difficult it gets to be. YOu know that you can get an LED light for your old machine. It is much brighter. It might help.

Also the tweezers as kath mentioned are a good idea. I have pair of threading tweezers that came with my serger.