Pin Matrix Patchboard pins

[Mike I]

I recently obtained a used pin matrix patchboard along with about 200 
2-contact pins and about 50 shorting pins. The board is made by 
Sealectro which I believe is the same manufacturer for the board used in 
the EMS VCS3. The 2-contact pins have an internal diode (which you can 
see when the plastic cover is unscrewed). My question is this: is it 
possible to nicely remove this diode and install a small 100K, 1 percent 
resistor in it's place?