Update. The force feedback works the first time I run the game. If I exit and restart it won't work until I reboot the computer. It seems to be hanging up the whatever windows thing runs force feedback.
Its not a usb stick. It is plugged into the gameport on my sound card. No stick managing software for it. Not support in XP. In ROF it just acts like a really stiff spring. The FF adjustments seem ineffective. It works mint in IL2 so it is not a stick or Windblows sort of issue.