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I was cleaning out my Besson 983 with a hose, yesterday. Not too much green stuff, but when I put it back together, I suddenly had a problem!

When I went to play any notes with the 4th valve (compensating valve), it suddenly sounded like there was an air leak.

• 1) I test the spit valve crook, by sealing one end & blowing through it --- seems to be tight. Hmmm...
  
  2) I then decide to hose out the 4th valve tubing circut again, just in case I missed something the first time.
  
  3) I hosed out one direction....nothing.
  
  4) The other direction produces some "leafy" objects!

Upon closer inspection, they look like silver foil. My guess is that when they silver plated the instrument, they did not plug up the interior valve tubing, and so the inside tubing was plated too. It just now, finally peeled off.

I am just presenting this as a cautionary tale, for those of you with 10+ year old Bessons!

You did better than I did. I hosed out my monster Conn yesterday afternoon. Fragments of actual leaves that grew on trees floated up into the bell. They must have gotten in there the Saturday before the 4th of July, which was the last time I played outdoors.