Having looked closer at my 139 tech notes - the duplex bearing can be clearly seen - what isn't so obvious is the slider assembly (to which the spider is attached) is splined into the TR drive shaft so the whole assembly slides in and out on the splines whilst being supported at the outboard end by the duplex bearing.
I am assuming that the 169 has a very similar setup.
The text talks about the outboard nut and washer setting the preload for the outer race and the stepped end of the control rod providing the preload for the inner race - if the preloads are too high, can that damage the bearing?