ebay H-valve refurbished????

[FFMDiver]

Recently purchased an OMS H-valve on ebay.
The seller said it was brand new. After several dives I notice a small weld on the inside DIN hole backing and a circular crack directly above the weld on the exterior. I know, no more ebay for this type of critical equipment. But has anyone ever refurbished an OMS valve? How is it that the crack from the weld has been chromed smooth? How could a hole have developed in the top of this hunk of brass? Is there a potential for the weld to leak? If the seller rips me off, what options do I have? Can the serial number get me anywhere with OMS? Any advice or comments appreciated and thank you.

 

[FFMDiver]

the seller has provided an answer that migh be helpfull to others:

the exterior marking that appears on the top angled - rear side (the sorta
circular shape with zig zags on either side) is visible on mostly every OMS
shiny chrome plated valve, it is also occasionally found on the newer brush
coated ones as well, but is less noticeable. it's a mark made during the
manufacturing process. the valves are formed in a mold and that is the area
where the final seal is made in the metal DURING MANUFACTURING. after the
valve is molded it is then coated with chrome, chrome is liquid and it may
or may mot fill the blemish that was created by the mold - as mentioned it
appears that the shiny chrome does not fill as well as the new brushed
chrome finish as the shape / indent is more pronounced and visible. We
inspected our cylinders and all 18 of them with valves dating from 1996 till
the ones purchased this summer have the SAME markings you have described and
photographed - they appear on both the modular and the non-modular valves.

As for the interior discoloration, the valve is BRASS, it is coated in all
areas with chrome EXCEPT for the innermost circular area on the back side of
the valve. What you are seeing is what happens to brass when it is exposed
to air -- it is oxidation. It takes on many different shapes and in some
cases it will actually cover the entire inner circle. I believe you
purchased the LEFT side, I still have an image of the right side and the
same oxidation is visible.

The valve was not welded, altered and it is not defected. It has a minor
cosmetic blemish in the chrome finish that is a result of the manufacturing
process and not isolated to only your valve - the blemish does not effect
the integrity or performance of the valve. It also has a naturally
occurrence of oxidation. Both of which can be found in any other used OMS
valve with that finish.