CD player skips on early tracks

The lens assembly in a CD player glides along on a two rail track, kinda like a railroad track except tubular. The lens carriage is moved over this track by a small motor driving a worm gear. (Think long, tubular and spiral). If the rail tracks or the worm gear dry up or have dust accumulating on them, this could be the cause. Normally they have a light gear oil or lithium grease on them to keep them lubricated.