Abstract: A decompressor disposed to start an engine by a recoil starter and at this time compression pressure within a cylinder is adapted to escape therefrom, in which a decompression valve of the decompressor is disposed vertically with respect to a crank shaft or within a crank casing, so that a decompression valve does not laterally project from the cylinder and does not interfere with a cowling, whereby a compact engine is laid out, and also an interlocking mechanism of the decompression valve with the recoil starter becomes simple. Furthermore, a cam at the recoil reel is made variable correspondingly to the kind of engine so that the decompression timing during the starting is made variable so as to obtain the most suitable starting mechanism.