The pilot assembly should look similar to the pic above. Depending on where you live, you may be required to hire a certified plumber to replace the parts. If not you can do it your self. Keep in mind if it's not staying lit you also need to check the thermostat and the thermocoupler before replacing the pilot assembly. There is a good chance it is just the thermocoupler going out. It is one of the first things to check when troubleshooting a pilot light problem with a gas water heater. A thermocouple determines if the pilot light is lit. If it's not lit, the gas valve fails. If that's the problem, replace the thermocouple.
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Shut off the gas valve on the water heater and the gas valve on the line near the heater. Remove outer and inner doors, and loosen the pilot and supply tubes and the thermocouple connections to remove the burner assembly.
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Step 2
Loosen the screw holding the thermocouple to the bracket. Remove old thermocouple. Bring it with you to the store to ensure you are buying the proper replacement.
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Step 3
Install the new thermocouple. Position the thermocouple so that the pilot flame heats 1/2 inch of the tip.
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Step 4
Reinstall burner assembly in the water heater. Tighten burner supply tube, pilot tube and thermocouple connections. Tighten thermocouple no more than a quarter turn more than hand-tight.
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Step 5
Turn on both gas valves. Check supply tube and pilot tube for leaks with soapy water. If soap bubbles, tighten connections to fix leak. Ignite the pilot light, and make sure the thermocouple tip is heating up. Replace inner and outer doors.
rather than installing a new gas hot water heater. 
I bought my fryer in November 2010 and it worked good for that Thanksgiving. Went to use it this year and thermocuople kept shutting off. So I used a brick to kep red button pressed in. What a pain.
After turkey day I removed my thermocouple and installed a direct conection.
I'm not sure about the exact thread size the Brinkman hose end and brass fitting on burner uses. I tried using a 1/16" NPT fitting but it is incorrect. However, I found 8mm threads to be the closet. Use thread sealant and it works great!
I bought a McMaster-Carr p/n 93590A220; Metric 18-8 Stainless Steel Coupling Nut M8 Screw Sz, 1.25mm Pitch, 38mm Length, 16mm Width, $7.95. and used it to connect the hose end to brass fitting on burner.
Yes this is considered a safety risk so modify at your own risk. No one I know of ever walks away druing use.
hth
Kenneth
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