One embodiment provides a recoil starter mechanism, including: a starter case having a rotation shaft; a rope reel rotatably mounted on the rotation shaft; a coil spring wound on the rotation shaft, one end thereof being formed into a tip projecting portion; a hold plate holding the coil spring to the rotation shaft; and a ratchet which is formed into a ring-like shape and interposed between the rope reel and the hold plate. The ratchet includes: a fulcrum around which the ratchet is swingable with respect to the rope reel; a guide groove in which the tip projecting portion is engaged; and an engagement pawl which is to be engaged with an engagement portion of a pulley to thereby start an engine. The guide groove and the engagement pawl are disposed at opposite sides so as to interpose the rotation shaft therebetween.