Table setup problem or bad table component?

Table: AT-PL120

Cartridge/headshell = supplied one (ATP-2)

First problem is this:

I finally received the Shure Tracking force gauge, and I find out it only goes up to 3.0 grams. The cartridge with the table has a range of 3.0 -> 5.0 grams. So my first question is this: can I configure the tracking force @ 3.0 grams & then use that value as offset for the real value? I set the tracking force for 3.0 grams using the Shure gauge & the dial on the counterweight says 2.6-ish. So the counterweight is off 0.4 grams. If 2.6 grams on the counterweight is actually 3 grams on the Shure gauge (true tracking force), does that mean that 3.5 grams (true tracking force) is = 3.5-0.4 = 3.1 on the counterweight's dial? 3.5 grams is the quick guide's recommended tracking force setting.

Second problem is this: Skipping. Not during a track, however. Only at the beginning. If I let the tone arm down on the space before the first track, the stylus tends to jump to about 2 or 3 seconds in, on the first track. This is ONLY if when the needle touches the record, it's not in the groove (since it's the big space before track one). If it's not in the groove once the needle touches the record's surface, the whole tone arm moves pretty inward til I guess it finds the groove (which happens to be after track one has already started). I'm not sure if this coincides with an incorrect tracking force or incorrect anti-skate. So assuming I've got my true tracking force set, is my problem anti-skate? Anti-skate is still something I don't get as I'd sometimes set it to 0 and then to 7 (the max) and I don't see any obvious differences in playback. Or could it be that I have a bad stylus, needle, or something else?

This is my first turn table (less than 1 month of ownership), so be gentle....

I always thought you set the dial to 0 after you balance the tone arm by moving the counterweight up the arm...then once balanced, you use the dial on the counterweight to set the exact tracking force by moving the counterweight more up the arm to you get to your tracking force on the counterweight's dial.

So Im not sure what you mean by seeing how far it's off based on simple balancing cause I thought the whole point of grabbing the Shure tracking gauge was because you can't trust the on-board measurement tools on the table?

I was really looking to see if an incorrect anti-skate could be causing the needle to not fall in the groove (before that actual track starts) on the big space before track one.

In recent expirements, I've tried getting extremely heavy tracking forces (counterweight almost at the fulcrum of the lever) and the needle still didn't fall in the groove. This was before I had the Shure gauge so I'm gonna try again.

What's a good, cheap record cleaning agent? All of my turn table tools are just a carbon fibre brush & the Shure gauge. Anything greater than or equal to Disc Doctor in price is too expensive