M&H console/damper spoon problem

[Tvak@AOL.COM]

We recently got a used Model 50 Mason & Hamlin console in the store, and it 
was my job to regulate and prep it for sale.  I found the action to play 
quite heavily, and so I polished the capstans, sprayed the key pins with 
teflon spray, used CLP on the action centers but found little or no 
improvement.  Next I checked the dampers and found that they lifted almost 
immediately when the key was depressed. (The impact of early lifting dampers 
on touchweight is, BTW, something I learned about here on the list---thank 
you!)  

So, never having regulated damper spoons, I went to the technician in charge. 
 He agreed with the diagnosis and attempted to regulate a damper spoon when 
we found that this vertical piano had a sostenuto!  We removed the sostenuto 
rod to gain better access to the spoons but unfortunately each damper lever 
has a wire which extends downward denying us access to the spoon.  Further 
complicating it is the fact that there is a sticker below the wippen.  

He was stumped.  So I suggested soliciting help from the list.

Is there a way to regulate the damper spoons with the action out of the 
piano?  (We tried this and failed miserably.) Any other suggestions?  

Any help greatly appreciated.

Tom S.
Chicago PTG Associate