Okay here are some updates. It seems to be an issue with the motor itself?
When I remove the motor to see how it behaves when I jog a single step (repeatedly in the same direction) it goes back and forth… this behavior is worse at smaller steps, going ‘fast’ in one direction mostly looks okay (except shuddering at the beginning). Here is some video of me jogging it in the SAME direction repeatedly 
P.s. I can turn the pulley when it is on and the machine is engaged when it was attached still but the motor doesnt turn at all when I force it by hand (and there) https://youtube.com/shorts/W3itYTSlA4I?feature=shares
So now I’m not so sure it’s a wiring issue?? Although this is still plausible??!? Any insights would be really helpful.
This also seems to apply (I might call it a ‘sticky motor’ since it takes some work to turn when off)