The invention provides a starter of a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. The starter comprises a shell, an air inlet chuck connected with the shell, a soleplate connected with the air inlet chuck, and a volute spring spindle penetrating through the shell, the air inlet chuck and the soleplate, wherein the volute spring spindle is provided with a volute spring gear, a volute spring, a cover board, a drive clutch disc, a driven clutch disc, a one-way bearing connected with the shell and the volute spring spindle, and a connecting rod fixedly connected with the other end of the volute spring and the shell in sequence, a pinion engaged with the shell and a main starting shaft matched with the pinion are arranged on the upper end of the shell, a lock block shaft engaged with the volute spring gear and a gear lock block connected with the lock block shaft are arranged on the lower end of the shell, and the lock block shaft is connected with a starting handle. According to the invention, the technical problems of complicated structure, difficult processing, high production cost and narrow application range of the conventional starter of the diesel engine are solved, and the starter has the advantages of simple structure and convenience for use, and is suitable for the diesel engine and the gasoline engine.