A recoil starter comprising: a starter case that is positioned to face an engine-side driving pulley and that has a reel supporting shaft at a center thereof; a rope reel having: a tubular shaft portion formed at a center of the rope reel to be rotatably engaged to the reel supporting shaft; an engaging portion protruding from the rope reel to be substantially parallel to the tubular shaft portion; a rope housing groove formed at an outer-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a recoil rope; and a spring housing portion formed at an inner-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a spiral spring for rewinding the rope reel; a ratchet having: a ratchet body axially-slidably arranged outside the tubular shaft portion; and a ratchet arm outwardly protruding from the ratchet body; a ratchet guide attached to an end of the reel supporting shaft to provide a frictional resistance to a rotation of the ratchet; and a return spring provided between the ratchet guide and the ratchet to urge the ratchet toward a proximal end of the tubular shaft portion, wherein an inclined surface and a locking surface are formed on the engaging portion so as to be engageable with the ratchet arm, wherein the inclined surface of the engaging portion is formed to guide the ratchet arm so that the ratchet is moved toward a distal end of the tubular shaft portion against the return spring and so that the ratchet arm engages with the driving pulley, thereby rotating the driving pulley and starting the engine, when the rope reel is rotated, and wherein the ratchet is formed such that a front side and a rear side thereof are symmetrical. a starter case that is positioned to face an engine-side driving pulley and that has a reel supporting shaft at a center thereof; a rope reel having: a tubular shaft portion formed at a center of the rope reel to be rotatably engaged to the reel supporting shaft; an engaging portion protruding from the rope reel to be substantially parallel to the tubular shaft portion; a rope housing groove formed at an outer-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a recoil rope; and a spring housing portion formed at an inner-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a spiral spring for rewinding the rope reel; a ratchet having: a ratchet body axially-slidably arranged outside the tubular shaft portion; and a ratchet arm outwardly protruding from the ratchet body; a ratchet guide attached to an end of the reel supporting shaft to provide a frictional resistance to a rotation of the ratchet; and a return spring provided between the ratchet guide and the ratchet to urge the ratchet toward a proximal end of the tubular shaft portion, wherein an inclined surface and a locking surface are formed on the engaging portion so as to be engageable with the ratchet arm, wherein the inclined surface of the engaging portion is formed to guide the ratchet arm so that the ratchet is moved toward a distal end of the tubular shaft portion against the return spring and so that the ratchet arm engages with the driving pulley, thereby rotating the driving pulley and starting the engine, when the rope reel is rotated, and wherein the ratchet is formed such that a front side and a rear side thereof are symmetrical. a tubular shaft portion formed at a center of the rope reel to be rotatably engaged to the reel supporting shaft; an engaging portion protruding from the rope reel to be substantially parallel to the tubular shaft portion; a rope housing groove formed at an outer-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a recoil rope; and a spring housing portion formed at an inner-peripheral side of the rope reel to house a spiral spring for rewinding the rope reel; a ratchet having: a ratchet body axially-slidably arranged outside the tubular shaft portion; and a ratchet arm outwardly protruding from the ratchet body; a ratchet guide attached to an end of the reel supporting shaft to provide a frictional resistance to a rotation of the ratchet; and a return spring provided between the ratchet guide and the ratchet to urge the ratchet toward a proximal end of the tubular shaft portion, wherein an inclined surface and a locking surface are formed on the engaging portion so as to be engageable with the ratchet arm, wherein the inclined surface of the engaging portion is formed to guide the ratchet arm so that the ratchet is moved toward a distal end of the tubular shaft portion against the return spring and so that the ratchet arm engages with the driving pulley, thereby rotating the driving pulley and starting the engine, when the rope reel is rotated, and wherein the ratchet is formed such that a front side and a rear side thereof are symmetrical. a ratchet body axially-slidably arranged outside the tubular shaft portion; and a ratchet arm outwardly protruding from the ratchet body; a ratchet guide attached to an end of the reel supporting shaft to provide a frictional resistance to a rotation of the ratchet; and a return spring provided between the ratchet guide and the ratchet to urge the ratchet toward a proximal end of the tubular shaft portion, wherein an inclined surface and a locking surface are formed on the engaging portion so as to be engageable with the ratchet arm, wherein the inclined surface of the engaging portion is formed to guide the ratchet arm so that the ratchet is moved toward a distal end of the tubular shaft portion against the return spring and so that the ratchet arm engages with the driving pulley, thereby rotating the driving pulley and starting the engine, when the rope reel is rotated, and wherein the ratchet is formed such that a front side and a rear side thereof are symmetrical.