OK so I finally got my Aridus/Zhukov (thanks Aridus!) installed, along with my Nordic MXT +2 extension - I called Nordic asking about the spring, I measured 16" from the end of the magazine cap and gave the spring a snip, I tried to bend it inward and down on the end with the cap as best I could, that spring is stout, especially when installing the magazine tube cap back on!
I haven't cycled it at the range yet but if anyone can snap a pic of their spring end I am going to try to mimic it with some pliers as best I can, just to make sure nothing hangs up - the one end seemed flat and flush so I used the "finished end" against the follower. Nice stainless follower.