"lens" > wrote in message
> I know spiders can get in these things, but wouldn't that just mean
> less gas and an a smaller flame? It this thing somehow getting starved
> for air? Any ideas on how to go about fixing this or what I can check?
> I am pretty handy and careful mechanically. I'd like to get more than
> one season out of these things.
>

Less air = richer mixture = soot. Try cleaning the venturi.