Magnavox 196 197 amplifier balance pot removal/bypass help please

If your device same as the schematic below, you can connect a 500k resistor to each channel to replace the balance pot.

Magnavox 196 re-build

There are two wires connected to the potentiometer. Unsolder them and then join them together with a bit of solder after putting a piece of heat shrink tubing over the wires. Or use a piece of black electrical tape over the solder joint. Then you can leave the pot in place or remove it.

I"m not familiar with this amp and don't know how the balance ot is wired.  if it is 2 pots that you can adust seperately, you can turn the both to maximum (and control volume elsewhere) will mostly take them out of the system. Most pots have a solid copper contact at the top which will make up and somewhat effectively jumper the pot out of the system.

Jerry