OK everyone, problem solved. Thank you all for your kind help. As it turned out, the old adage "the simplest solution is usually the correct solution". Replaced both belts, works like new again.
However, I did learn a valuable lesson today. Always read the specs on the belt itself and NEVER go by only the belt holder package specs.
I could not find the 1/2"x82" brand belt (main drive belt) that I wanted so I decided to just pick up any brand belt at Home Depo. Found a package that said 1/2"x82", so paid for it and started back home from this 60 mile (one way) trip.
I go home and put the belt on and it was way, way big. Crap, so thought to read the numbers on belt itself and holy crap... 1/2"x88". Wow, I was pissed, I'm on Disability and paying for gas even to go that distance on the 20th. of the month was a bit tough. So... then I had the pleasure of doing it all again.
So this time I got a Blue Husky Kevlar belt.
Well, seems this day just is not going to end well with this mower venture. My wife just came in and says that now it has no reverse. What in the world could I have done to cause this? My wife says that when you put it in reverse, sometimes it will try to engage and and sometimes it will move a bit and sometimes it just does nothing.