Got help on the terry love forum. Apparently not broken after all, only need to turn it 90 degrees. Derrrrrr doh!
Don't blame yourself for this one! That appears to be a ball valve. In that case, the handle turns a small ball with a hole drilled though it. Turn one way it flows, turn 90* in the opposite direction it stops. Ball valves are typically built with "stops" or simple bumps in the valve body to keep the handle from, as you say, "turns and turns either way". I have never seen one without stops, and the problem is that the valve is a cheap piece of shit, not that you didn't operate it properly. That said, ball valves tend to be very reliable and last well beyond the other choice, which is the style with a rubber washer. As for the copper, it's a decent way to hook up the dishwasher. I typically use the braided stainless supply lines, but that's not typically "condo budget" grade material.
