tonearm issue

Step #1  Make sure the TT is level.  Go buy a simple level at a hardware store if you don’t have one.  This is extremely important.

Step #2  Check your stylus.  I know it is a new cartridge and should be fine, but it is possible the stylus is damaged.  You will need a strong magnifying glass to look at it to make sure it is intact and in alignment with the the cantilever.

Step #3  Check the vertical tracking force with an external gauge.  Yes SME is quite good, but it is important to verify VTF independently, always.  For your X40 it should be set to 2.0 grams.

I suggest you leave Antiskate off to start just to verify that everything is working.  Then, set Antiskate IAW SME recommendation and see if that is the problem.  If the same thing happens, cut it in half and see if that works better.  Let us know.

See if, when the cueing is in the down position, the bottom of the arm comes in contact with the cueing platform as the record plays. If it does, you can lower the cueing mechanism slightly and that should take care of the issue.

What Viridian said is a common problem.

Otherwise, look for other extraneous issues.  That amount of skating is not per se due to the classical skating force.  Something else is happening.

Check the TT base and the tonarm placement. It looks like the axis may be declined from 90 degrees to the TT base.

Cuing lever lowered and is now for sure out of the way. Table is leveled properly now. Outboard stylus force gage has no brand name on it. Reads close to SME gauge. Set at 2g. No problem in the middle of the record. Only when the stylus first contacts the record for the first song, and only on few records which seem to be in perfect condition. It's not a damaged record skip. The cart just slides in 1/8 to 1/4 inch into the record at first lowering the arm.