Logitech Z560 volume pot problem

[rich_kildow]

I have a pair of Logitech Z560's that I purchased in early 2004 that have developed a hissing or cracking noise. It occurs when changing the volume and once in a while it will just happen on its own and continue until you flick the volume know. I've traced it down to a bad potentiometer in volume control and, like others before me, have had no luck with logitech or finding a direct replacement pot. No luck with cleaning it by turning it repeatedly or chemicals, either.

Can I just unsolder the faulty pot and jump the input and output with a wire? I'll lose the ability to control the volume from the control pod but it is easy enough to do with windows, my keyboard, the program in question, and probably a few other ways. I'm not sure if that is going to mess things up down the line, but in my decent understanding of circuits, it should work, right?

EDIT:

Here is a link to another thread with the same problem and a picture of the problem component...any idea what the wire goes to?

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=888506

[rich_kildow]

Also, it is a 10Kohm pot, so would I solder a 10k resister between the two terminals of the pot?