Abstract: A recoil starter including a winding housing and a reel that is rotatably coupled of the winding housing for rotation about a central axis. The winding housing includes a spring tab that is spaced from the central axis. The recoil starter also includes a spirally wound spring having an outer end portion that is coupled to the heel, a coiled portion that extends around the central axis, a guide portion that extends between the central axis and the spring tab, and a hook portions that extends radially outwardly from the central axis and that engages the spring tab to restrict movement of the inner end with respect to the winding housing.