Recoil starter

A recoil starter capable of introducing cooling air into an engine through the recoil starter and reducing a size and weight thereof. Annular recesses (11, 12) are formed in opposing joint surfaces of a rope reel (4) and a cam (7), respectively, in a manner to face each other. A damper spring (13) is received in the annular recesses (11, 12) while opposite ends (14, 16) thereof are respectively held at the rope reel (4) and the cam (7) so that the rope reel (4) and the cam (7) are rotationally coupled together via the damper spring (13). Air inlets (18, 19) for introducing air for cooling the engine are formed in a side wall of a casing (1). Air passages (21) facing the air inlets (18) of the casing (1) are formed between a drum portion (4a) at an outer periphery of the rope reel (4) and a boss portion (4b) forming the annular recess (11) of the rope reel (4).