Cart support system for testing or inspecting dynamoelectric machine coils

A cart system for testing or inspecting a coil (610) of a dynamoelectric machine includes one or more support rails (200) disposed substantially horizontally, a plurality of lifting rails (310) disposed substantially vertically and connected at one end to the one or more support rails, and a plurality of coil clamps (700) for applying a compressive force. The coil clamps are attached to the lifting rails in a removable manner. The coil of the dynamoelectric machine is placed on the cart system and the coil clamps are arranged on the lifting rails to apply a compressive force to the coil during a testing procedure such as an insulation test of the coil. The compressive force applied represents the load on the coil in use and can be measured by a gauge in or attached to the clamp 700. The lifting rails may have points for attachment to a crane for moving the cart system. The cart is used during repair or rewinding of a generator to facilitate testing or inspecting of the coil when removed, but still under realistic load forces.