Issues sending integers out serial port to arduino

Hello,
My arduino is set up to receive plain integers to set the speed of a stepper motor. It operates as intended in arduino, using the serial monitor. ie. I input "100" and it turns. I input "300" and it turns faster etc.

I would like to be able to automate it's speed with the set tempo of ableton. I'm pretty sure this should be fairly basic, but I cannot get the serial object to output a number other than zero; effectively only setting the speed to zero. I noticed I only get an output when the number object updates, even though the serial is constantly receiving bangs, which I found a little odd, but for my purposes shouldn't matter.

I am using a metro to send bangs to my serial object, and inputing the tempo to my serial through a number object.

Anyone know what I am missing?
Thanks